HISTORY OF CLARENDON 



Krom 1810 TO 1888. 



BY 



DAYID STURGES COPELAND. 






BUFFALO: 
THE COURIER COMPANY, PRINTERS. 

1889. 






P. 

Author. 

§ 0'02 






TO THE 
MEMORY OF MY BLESSED MOTHER, 

LAURA A. STURGES COPELAND, 

Who ever loved Clarendon— her Poor, her Sick, her Unfor- 
tunate. HER Rocks, her Hills, her beautiful (xROves 
and pleasant streams— and whose heart 
linked Earth to Heaven, 

Kijis JSoofe is Sacremw Be&icatett ti» tfje ^utfiot 

DAVID STURGES COPELAND. 



PREFACE. 



The preparation of this work for publication has been 
one of years, and the author has traveled, generally on foot, 
over the greater portion of Clarendon — over her highways 
and across her fields, through groves and swamp, on the 
summits of her hills and in her meadows and dales. He 
has visited houses in all parts of the town, from the log- 
covering to the fine mansion, and has held converse with 
the young and the old, the father and mother just ready to 
say '' Grood-by ! " to this life, and the laughing boy and girl 
gaily entering upon the stage of action. 

In some parts of the town he has found individuals with 
good memories of other days, and in many instances has 
been debarred this privilege by the silent touch of the past. 
In every case he has taken down the statements of living 
witnesses when this was possible, and, by comparing one 
with the other, did all in his power to arrive at the truth. 
He found that many records had been burnt up that should 
have been preserved in the town's history, and even those 
in being are not as full and complete as they should be, 
having, in many instances, been kept by those who never 
looked one year ahead of their office or troubled their minds 
about the future. All this could be remedied by appointing 
in every town a local historian, whose duty would be the 
compilation of events as they pass over the dial of Time. 



<^ 



VI PREFACE. 



We have visited the homes of many who no longer are to 
be seen in our company, and to the departed we are chiefly 
indebted for the mass of information which we are enabled to 
present to the public. If in so doing we have been so for- 
tunate as to perpetuate and hand down to coming days 
somewhat of the labor, energy, spirit and love of those who 
once lived in Clarendon, then v/e have finished a task which 
fills our soul with the thought that two years on the Atlan- 
tic and Indian cjoeans, in Asia and Africa, in Cuba, Georgia, 
Iowa, Kansas, in Zanzibar, Cape Town, Havana, New 
York, Buffalo, Rochester, Saratoga, Great Bend and Albion, 
we have never forgotten our loved Clarendon, and have 
endeavored to leave behind us a history that time and 
eternity will not suffer to fade away. 

DAVID STURGES COPELAND. 
Clarendon, December, 1888. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Boundaries and General Appearance as to Soil and Formation — 
Natural Productions — The Old Elm Tree — Church's Meadow — 
Mill Fall — Church's Hill — Rain Supply — Fruits — Maple-sugar — 
Cider and Vinegar — Dried Apples — Cereals — Creameries and Stock 
Growing — Highways — Fuel — Butchers — Petrifaction — Indians — 
Pests — Birds — Island Sports — Bees — Improvements — Area — 
Population — Families and Fashion, 1 

CHAPTER II. 

First Settlement — Eldredge Far well and Family — Home— Mail 
Route — Postoffice — Pettifoggers — Old Saw-mill and Grist-mill — 
Water-pipes — Tannery — Other Saw-mills — New Grist-mill — 
Engine — Evaporators — Red Store — Proprietors — Benjamin Cope- 
land — David Sturges — Piatt — Ainsworth — Eldredge Farwell, Jr. 
— George M. Copeland — Julius H. Royce — Shoemakers — Tailors — 
Libraries — Distillery — Ashery — Coffins — Furnaces — Blacksmiths 
— Red Shop — Wagon-shops — Turning-shop — Hardware — Dress- 
makers and Milliners — Food Supplies — Barbers — Houses — Lime — 
Lower Store — Hotels, 14 

CHAPTER III. 

Farwell's Mill School — Village Schools — John B. King — Malvina 
Vandyke — Whipping — Instruction — Minerva Curtis — Flowers — 
Anecdotes — Henry A, Pratt — Exhibitions — Luther Peck — Hood 
School— Bennett's Corners School — Elviraette Lewis — Robinson 
School — Cook School — Picnics — Mudville or Manning School — 
Hubbard School — Brown School — New Guinea School — Root 
School — Cowles School — Glidden School — Scholars — Books — 
Wages — Decay — Rolls — Elviraette Lewis — Malvina A. Vandyke — 
John B. King — Clara B. Newman — William E. French — Visitors 
Teachers, 44 

CHAPTER IV. 

Education — Universalist Society — Formation — Trustees — Ministers — 
Christian Society — Building — Ministers — Incidents — Protestant 
Methodists — School-services — Abandonment — Methodist Church 
— Foundation — Growth — Ministers — Trustees, .... 78 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 

Holley Road — Hood Road — Curtis' Road — Sawyer Road — Inhabitants, 
Past and Present — Orchards — Fences — Shade-trees — Road Bed — 
Improvement, 94 

CHAPTER VI. 

Brockport Road — Smede's Road — Bartlett Road — Bennett's Corners 
Road — Butterfield Road — Williams' Road — County Line Road — 
Taylor Road — Warren Road — Waite Road — Storms Road, . 103 

CHAPTER VII. 

Byron Road — Matson Road — Tousley Road — Floyd Storms Road — 
Glidden Road — Coy Road — Andros Road — Crossett Road — Stevens 
Road — Root Road — Bird Road — Barker Road — Carver Road — 
Templeton Road — Cowles Road — East Glidden Road — Lusk Road 
—Hill Road— West Sweden Road— Reed Road, .... 122 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Wyman Road — Milliken Road — Tousley Road — Coy Road — Maine 
Road — Stevens Road — New Guinea Road, 162 

CHAPTER IX. 

Barre Road — Pettengill Road — Salsbury Road — Packard Road — 
Millard Road — Ward Road — New Swamp Road — Hindsburgh 
Road — Johnson Road — Webster Road — Allen Road, . . . 174 

CHAPTER X. 

Hulberton Road — Sawyer Road — Allen Road — Cantine Road — Sur- 
veys — Condition — General Remarks 195 

CHAPTER XI. 

Stories : Mrs. Curtis Cook — Mary Ann Cook — William S. Glidden's 
Canal Story — Mrs. William S. Glidden — Horatio Reed — Asa Glid- 
den — William S. Glidden — Beniamin G. Pettengill — Sarah Jane 
Vincent — Edwin Bliss — Alvah Morgan — J. C. Weller — George W. 
Reynell — J. A. Bryan — Stephen North way — Dr. Robert Nicker- 
6on, 205 



CONTENTS. IX 

CHAPTER XII. 

Reflections— Companies of 1814, 1818. 1824, 1825. 1833— List of 
Officers at Gaines, 1838 — Training of 1841— Incidents, . . 228 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Dr. Bussey — Dr. Carter — Dr. Howard — Dr. Noyes — Dr. Keith— Dr. 
Soutliwortli — Dr. Lewis — Dr. Watson — Dr. Dutton — Dr. Badlan — 
Dr. Pugsley— Dr. Crabbe— Dr. O'Brien— Dr. Brackett— Dr. Ger- 
trude Farwell — Dr. Taylor — Dr. Cook — Dr. Coleman — Dr. Arm- 
strong — Dr. Townsend — Dr. Gleason — Dr. Woodhull, . . 237 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Influence— Canvass of 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1832— 
Special Elections — List of Town Officers — Whig, American, Re- 
publican and Prohibition Parties, 249 

CHAPTER XV. 

Sons of Temperance — Daughters of Temperance — Cadets of Tem- 
perance — Good Templars — W. C. T. U. — Band of Hope — St. John 
Circuit — Copeland's Grove, 272 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Revolution — 1812 — Mexican "War — List of Boys in Blue — Draft — 
Orleans County Veterans, 281 

CHAPTER XVII. 

James T. Lewis — Henry C. Lewis — Luther Peck — George Matson — 
Andrew Knickerbocker — Joseph F. Glidden — Jared Hopkins — 
Pratt Nelson — Lewis Darrow — Charles Sturges — Charles J. Mar- 
tin — Zina Richey — Darwin Inman — Clarence Akeley — Jules 
Andros — H. A. Pratt — Willis Whipple — George Riggs — Copeland 
Brothers and many others, 300 

CHAPTER XVIIL 

Almira Baldwin — Adelaide Church — Nancy Tousley — Lydia Patter- 
son — Cynthia A. Copeland — Ellen Farwell — Emily Grennell — 
Emma Cook — Clara King — Mary Potter — Emma Sturges — Artists, 
etc., 316 



CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER XIX. 



Agricultural Implements — Horses — Water — Steam — Wind — Man — 
Houseliold Progression — Reflections 328 



CHAPTER XX. 

Village Graveyard — Robinson Graveyard — Christian Graveyard — 
Root Graveyard — Glidden Graveyard — Polly Graveyard, . 344 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Hospitality — Personal Sketches — Stories — Tales — Sports— Incidents 
— Chips of Clarendon, 35T 



HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



THE HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEE I. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

IN the western part of the State of New York is the little 
County of Orleans, which was organized in 1824. In 
the southeastern portion of this county lies the Town of 
Clarendon, which was taken from the Town of Sweden 
February 23, 1821. The town was named by Eldredge 
Farwell, its first supervisor, in honor of Clarendon in Ver- 
mont. Clarendon is bounded on the north by Murray, on 
the east by Sweden, on the south by Byron and Bergen, 
and on the west by Barre. The population in 1821 was 
very small, as the assessment roll of that year will show, 
and the inhabitants were scattered in the wilderness, with 
only a slight portion of the town fit for cultivation. If 
you will ramble through the town, at the present time, you 
will at once be struck by its many peculiarities. 

Leaving Holley in the background, we may ascend the 
hill just above the bridge, where the N. Y. C. & H. R. E. 
was laid in 1851, thence south^-over a short stretch of high- 
way, to where the new cemetery meets the eye, and just be- 
yond, the old one, its tombs fast disappearing under the 
furrows, or standing as lonely reminders of days long since 
gone by. Here the land rises to an elevation that com- 
mands a distant view of the outskirts of Brockport to the 
east, Holley to the north, the cloud-capped hills of Wyoming 
to the south, while, away to the westward, Tonawanda 
swamp, with its dark, shady evergreens, bounds the circle. 



2 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

If we turn our steps to the eastward, by the rippling 
pond, near the old mills of Lucas and Curtiss, we shall 
soon discover a deep gulf or ravine, extending to the north- 
ward, into the limits of Holley. On either side may be 
seen huge masses of red sandstone, piled in irregular shapes, 
or lying in uneven strata, over which the waters of West 
Sandy gurgle and eddy, on their way to join the blue On- 
tario. We stoop down to examine the soil, and find, at 
times, a mixture of gravel, with clay and sand alternating. 
The different roads in the town have been repaired with 
gravel from the Nelson bank in the north, the Mathes in 
the east, the Morgan and Orcutt in the south, and the Treat 
in the west. Dark-gray limestones stand out boldly above 
the surface, from one border of the town to the other ; and 
boulders of granite arrest the eye, that must have been car- 
ried to their present position during the glacial period. 
The old Indian Hill, with its sandy brow, rises above the 
fields around, commanding a beautiful circuit of country 
for thirty miles. In the hills that range to the south from 
the village, the best of water-lime may be obtained, and, for 
building purposes, quick-lime is known in all the counties 
surrounding. Along the line of the N. Y. C. & H. K. R. 
may be seen quarries of the Medina sandstone, that ship 
their material east and west, north and south ; and, from 
the village, even to the borders of Holley, the mason 
builder could be supplied at any moment. The output of 
lime is so great that large quantities of timber-land are 
yearly cut over to supply the burning. Below the maple 
and beech, on highland and lowland, the blue limestone 
strata penetrate to a depth of ten or fifteen feet, where 
nitro-glycerine and dynamite are employed to crush the 
masses for use. 

Above the swamp, in the southwestern portion of the 
town, called New Guinea, the stranger is struck with the 
presence of hills, rising one above the other, as if they had 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



been upheaved by some mighty convulsion of nature ; and 
at this point is the highest elevation. All around is one 
girdle of Tonawanda, where the huntsman has royal sport 
in the game season, if his dogs can penetrate the thickets. 
Here, too, is the great cranberry marsh, so well known to 
all the country round, where luckless lads and maidens have 
been lost to the outer world. In the mosquito season, woe 
unto the individual who dares to invade these retreats ; a 
million foes are about him in an instant, and he is very 
fortunate if he escapes without much blood-letting. A 
little to the north may be seen sandy mounds, which rise 
above the surface, and are called by the farmers ** hog- 
backs," in memory of their peculiar appearance. In an 
early day this portion of Tonawanda had heavy pine, hem- 
lock, ash and tamarack timber ; but the axe of the wood- 
man has felled their noble forms, and the muUey and cir- 
cular saw cut their bodies for the service of man. 

Along the fences, out in the woods, and in the clearings, 
may be seen the bushes where the red and black raspberry, 
with the high blackberry, have their blossoms and fruit ; 
while in the shady Tonawanda the low-creeping huckleberry 
loves to twdne ; mandrakes hang their golden heads; wild 
turnips are few and far between in the forests ; smartweed, 
boneset, catnip, peppermint, spearmint, sage and tansy are 
in the fields; the frost-grape clusters in some thicket; and 
the scarlet leaves of the ivy may be seen, giving one timely 
warning of the poison within. Down in the old Indian lot 
the berry-bushes are rapidly passing away, and we no longer 
hear the merry laugh of happy boys and girls, w^lio loved, 
in vacation day, to wind through the paths and fill their 
baskets and pails with the tempting fruit. There are the 
old mounds, in which we fancied some noble chief, with 
his tomahawk and faithful dog, was buried; but the smoke 
of the wigwam has long since been lost in the blue heavens, 
and the white man's tread has stamped him out forever. 



4: HISTORY OF CLAEENDON. 

Pause for a moment, and look at the great piles of stones 
which have been gathered from every point of the compass. 
Only a few years ago, and the stranger would have hardly 
taken this territory as a gift ; but Darrow, Mathes, Stuckey 
and McKeon have made it to blossom as the rose. Jump 
over the wall across from Patrick McKeon's forge, and 
rest under the shade of the old elm in Church's meadow. 
What a grand tree is this! Having a diameter of seven 
feet, and rising to a height of sixty feet, without a brancli, 
and then throwing a shade for thirty feet away! Truly^ 
there is no peer to this old elm, from the North River to 
Lake Erie, from Adirondack to Pennsylvania. His giant 
roots are imbedded in the limestone strata of his native 
turf, and he laughs at the lightning and the blast. A little 
to the eastward stand a few thorn-apples that perfume the 
breeze with their pleasant fruit; while, out in the meadow, 
the cowslip, golden-blossomed, waves in the breeze. In the 
joyous spring-time the red-winged blackbird loves to build 
its nest in reeds and cowslips, while the lark and bobolink, 
along with the thrush, fill the air with melody. 

Where are the " Willows " now, along the creek, where 
we loved to gaze into the water, like some sedentary frog ? 
Where, now, the horn dace and bullheads, the chubs and 
suckers ? The cork no longer bobs above the stream, for 
the creek has passed away, never again to return. In the icy 
winter days we loved to buckle on our grooved skates, and 
skim over the old meadow, holding out our roundabouts to 
court the passing gale. But the cutting down of the tim- 
ber, and the drainage of Tonawanda, has changed all this, 
and those happy days have been hurried away into the dead 
past. Do you see that range of hills that reach to the 
southward ? The woods hang over their rocky brows, as 
in boyhood hours; but the water only trickles now, where, 
formerly, there was a supply sufficient to run saw and grist- 
mills. Just above Ool. May's was once a large spring, and 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. O 

this served to run the wheels and keep the stones hum- 
ming, before the bubbles plunged down a rocky ledge of 
fifty feet, and then rippled on to join old Sandy. Who 
can show this spring now? If we walk over Church's hill, 
we shall find great rocks that jut over the woods below, and, 
underneath, a good retreat from the storm when the trees 
shake in the gale, and the loud thunder booms above. On 
that stormy town-meeting day of 1886 the north wind cut 
a perfect swath through the timber below, and many a 
noble trunk hugged the dust. For over two miles one can 
walk these hills and have before him the finest views of 
grove, meadow, orchard and farming land to be found in 
any country under the sun, with battlements of nature that 
would serve to keep an enemy a long range away. Quarries 
have been worked out of these gray stones in the days when 
Dushan was on earth, and the mark of the wedge and 
hammer is plainly visible. In the little grove is the old 
beech-tree where the boys have cut out their names, but 
some of them have died, more than twenty years ago. 
Roll down a huge stone, and listen as it crashes in the 
w^oods below. We look in vain for the red, black and gray 
squirrels that once sported through these woods, and Ave 
sigh to think that no longer the pigeon ^^coos" in the 
branches, or moves grandly over the hill-tops, to rest in 
Tonawanda. The cruel hunter has made the forest as a 
graveyard, where one can only hear tho moaning of the 
wind, as if in requiem. The white rabbit no longer looks 
slyly out upon the passer-by, and even the chipmunk gives 
one shriek and runs from man, as if in mortal fear. 

A mighty change has taken place in the rainfall, and 
wells that formerly had an abundance of water must now 
be drilled to meet the demand. Springs and creeks, all over 
the town, are now dried up, and this change has happened 
in thirty years. The vandals that cut down our woodland 
for the almighty dollar should be made to drop the 



6 HISTORY OF CLAEENDOX. 

axe, and leave Dame Nature to enjoy a season of shady 
repose. 

The presence of so much calcis, or lime, in the waters of 
the town has had very injurious effects in the production 
of diseases that naturally follow in the wake of such causes. 

The market for apples from Clarendon was opened at 
Holley, by Isaac Smith, about 1850; and her fruit can now 
be found in the streets of London and Liverpool. There 
is no town in the state that has, proportionately, more or- 
chards to the population, and that produces finer fruit. At 
first these apples were shipped by Norton, of West Bloom- 
field, on the Erie Canal, in the bulk; then the russets, in 
oak barrels, from Rochester; and during the war the price 
advanced from one dollar to five dollars per barrel — one 
acre of orchard bringing as high as $350. The favorite 
varieties are the spitzenberg, greening, spy, king, baldv/in 
and russet. Holley has had single buyers that, in one sea- 
son, have bought 10,000 barrels. The barrel industry has 
become so great that the sound of the hammer can be 
heard from one week to the other, the whole year through, 
and, at times, the demand cannot be supplied. In the 
raising of peaches there has been a great falling away, as 
the disease known as the " yellows " has come in and poi- 
soned the tree to the very roots. Formerly, peach-trees 
bore in three years from the seed, and they were so very 
plentiful that no market was had, and they were fed to the 
hogs. Plums have generally become a matter of the past ; 
but cherries and pears are still raised, where care is taken 
in tlfe cultivation of choice varieties. 

In the eastern portions of the town the Niagara grape 
culture has sprung up during the present year, and prom- 
ises to yield good retiirns. If some company would pur- 
chase New Guinea, and set it out to small fruits, it would 
prove of great profit to Clarendon. Strawberries and rasp- 
berries are now extensively cultivated, and the blackberry 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. i 

can be furnished in crates. Peppermint could be raised on 
the flats in the town and, like Palmyra, become a center for 
the oil. 

The production of maple sugar is at present carried on 
very differently from the old way, with troughs hewn out 
by axes, trees hacked and bled,— with an old cauldron ket- 
tle or two, and a piece of pork to prevent over-boiling. 
Now we have Russia-iron pans for boiling on arches, pails 
with covers, metal spiles, evaporators, insuring cleanliness, 
purity and dispatch. The day has gone by when maple 
sugar short-cake was in fashion, and many families now 
use only the granulated, despising even coffee sugar. 

Down at the Curtiss Mills, over thirty years ago,^was a 
rude cider-mill, where the juice of the apple oozed through 
the straw, and the process was very slow, compared with 
the present system. The same rule was followed in the 
old saw-mill in the village, and also at Burr's, in Barre. 
Now cloths are used by Miller & Pettingill, with powerful 
presses worked by steam, that do an immense business. 
The old way of making vinegar, by taking a barrel of cider 
and putting in it a piece of brown paper soaked in molasses, 
for mother, with a junk-bottle in at the bung, has been 
superseded, and every portion of the apple is now used, and 
the great factories of Miller & Pettingill send these pro- 
ducts East and West. 

The good mothers were content to sit up winter evenings 
to pare and core apples for drying ; then hang them on 
racks over the fire-place or stove, out in the sun on boards, 
and sell for two cents a pound at the store, there to be 
pressed in barrels, and shipped to meet a very limited 
demand. Then came the paring-machine, which was con- 
sidered one of the wonders of the age, turned by hand, and 
fastened to a table or chair. Steam, with its easy and per- 
fect motion, was hardly dreamt of until the evaporator 
came into use, and the quality of the dried apples was 



8 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

greatly improved by the sulphur process. Clarendon now 
sends out tons of evaporated apples to the markets of the 
globe, and this has become one of her chief industries. In 
the production of cereals, such as wheat, barley, corn and 
oats, her soil is well adapted, and its limestone nature 
allows large quantities of beans to be raised of a superior 
quality. She has only once been troubled, to any great 
extent, by weevil; and the farmer is certain to reap, if he 
sow in season. Climatic changes have made our harvests 
later than formerly, and there is danger from early frosts, 
to those who allow the lessons of the past to go unheeded 
by. Creameries could be established in the town, and a 
cheese-factory, properly managed, secure a paying profit. 
In the raising of blooded stock the town is far behind, 
but the time will surely come when growers will awake to 
the fact that "blood tells." 

If the good people would throw aside the road machine, 
and, like Sweden, adopt a stone-crusher, we would then rid 
ourselves of the stones on the highways, and in the fields, 
and in a few years have the best roads in the state. The 
town is very backward in obeying the highway laws, and 
only in rare instances are the sides kept mowed and free 
from ragweed, mayweed, burdock and noxious weeds gen- 
erally. The present system of road-work is a sham, as 
the Town of Clarendon demonstrates at every turn, or line 
of the highway. In some places the corduroy of forty 
years ago may be bumped over, and rocks strike the wheels 
with a jar that only the blacksmith and wagon-maker fully 
appreciate. 

The consumption of wood for fuel is decreasing yearly, 
while the demand for coal from Albion, Holley and Byron, 
is rapidly increasing ; and ere long the Clarendon farmers 
will enjoy the winter season in one atmosphere of anthra- 
cite heat. The daily use of salt pork is nearly gone, and 
the butcher wagons from Clarendon, Byron, and Barre, 



GENERAL DESCEIPTION. y 

can be found now on every road ; and some of the younger 
class will not eat swine's flesh. Sugar has taken the place 
of molasses ; top carriages the place of buggies and lumber 
wagons, and the rider is seldom seen on the highway ; and 
to walk is considered a sure sign of poverty. If the old 
settlers had left a certain number of the maples, or 
other forest trees along the highway, wdien these were laid 
out, or had planted in an early day shade-trees, Clarendon 
could have boasted of beautiful avenues from one border 
to the other. But clearing away was the order of the day, 
and many of the old pioneers could only see the worth of 
the forest, as it was converted into arable or pasture land. 

In the woods back of Oliver Allis, on the Byron road, 
may be found fine specimens of petrifaction — the limbs of 
trees, made enduring by the stony hand of time; while 
back of Peter Stehler's, on the Wyman road, can be picked 
up large quantities of petrified plants resembling beads of 
stone, with a hole in the center of each, where the pith 
once lay. 

When the Erie Canal was dug at Holley, about 1823, 
tiie bones of a mastodon were found deeply imbedded in 
the soil, near the old Salt Springs, and we are informed 
that these remains were sent to the museum at Albany. 
Occasionally arrow flints of rude workmanship have been 
found, demonstrating that the Indian roamed through 
Clarendon in an early day. 

The prevailing winds are from the west and south- 
west, during the warm season, and from the west and north- 
west during the colder months. The trees mostly lean to 
the eastward, and have less of foliage to the west, showing 
the direction and effect of the wind. The potato-bug has 
invaded the gardens and fields ; and this new enemy of the 
husbandman requires a careful watching, brushing, and 
destroying by Paris-green. Cabbages and cucumbers, that 
formerly were free from insects, are now visited ; and this 



10 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

year a silver worm has begun its ravages at the roots of corn. 
Eoses and other flowering plants have now deadly enemies, 
that pierce- the leaves, and, unless destroyed, soon sap the 
vigor and life of the blossom. The original caterpillar may 
still be seen in the apple-trees, and occasionally a blight 
takes place which kills the bud, which has not yet been 
fully explained. In the meadows, the bumble-bee has 
nearly become extinct ; and it is rarely that the mower is 
seen swinging his hat, or the horses dashing away as if 
some Tam 0' Shanter spirit were at their heels. 

The introduction of the English sparrow has driven away 
the oriole, with its sweet and happy trills; and in its stead 
has come the golden robin, which has a mournful whistle. 
Even the robin of our boyhood days has no love for the 
chattering sparrow, and flies away to the woods to build 
his home. If the individual who first introduced these 
Johnny Bull nuisances had fallen overboard before he 
brought them ashore at Brooklyn, the whole of the bird- 
song world would have been greatly benefited: and we 
hope that Clarendon will offer a premium, in order that 
this public nuisance may be abated. Every year strange 
birds pay us a short visit, perch among the shady trees, 
oharm us with their song and beauty, and then disappear as 
quietly as they came. 

The owl is seldom heard at present, and the abundance 
of cats has sent this night-watcher to other regions. 
Crows and hawks hold their own, and it is questionable 
whether they steal more than they deserve, as part payment 
for carrion consumed. Snakes are again beginning to mul- 
tiply, and have the audacity to invade even door-yards, 
giving puss a fine opportunity to shake the twist out of 
their bodies. The mink, muskrat, and beaver once inhab- 
ited Clarendon, but the Indian captured the latter, while 
the cunning youth, with his steel-trap, is yearly decreasing 
the former. The quail, snipe, and partridge hardly dare 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 11 

to peep where man can listen, and so betake themselves 
and little ones to the shades of old Tonawanda. The deep 
rich bass of the bullfrog is seldom heard in the morning, 
and one must now retire to the swamp, in order that he 
may be reminded of other days, when gentle sleep was 
wooed by the music of the ponds, or the silent curtains 
drawn by the echoes from tree-top. 

Anciently the fly found his most dreaded foe in the 
cruel and wary spider, but now the housewife has declared 
war to the death upon this useful insect, and screens and 
doors proclaim that this old familiar acquaintance must 
go, at least from the sacred precincts of cottage and man- 
sion. Mosquitoes, away from Tonawanda, are hardly 
known at present; and no longer the Clarendonite has rea- 
son to use strong language in the watches of the night. 
For all this we should thank the gentle breezes, and the 
cool air of the evening, with the absence of low, stagnant 
pools. 

Wild strawberries are now to be found in cultivated 
fields, and along the highway; and the old boys will 
remember that we were in the habit of taking our lassies 
up to the Island, to gather these delicious fruits, not for- 
getting the sweets all around us. But Murphy has passed 
over the Island, and the place that we once knew and 
loved has now only a home in blessed memory. Bee-trees, 
in our younger days, were quite common ; and how often 
the axe of some sturdy chopper brought the mangled treas- 
ure in view. The advent of Moon & Hammond has changed 
all this ; and their patent hives have made the bees con- 
tented and happy in their palace homes. Where now is 
Moon ? Does the Wolverine State still hold his fearless 
soul ? We well remember the honey day, when he first 
came to Clarendon ; hoY\^ we stared at him as he walked 
boldly up, without mask or cover, and transferred the 
lioney from one hive into the milk-pans, and then told all 



12 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the lads to " come up and help themselves." " Don't pinch 
them, and they will not hurt you," he said, and we 
marched up like soldiers, took our sweet rations, and retired 
in the best of order, seldom receiving a w^ound. He was 
the prince of bee men, and understood that his favorites 
had reason, and more good sense than many men possess. 
Good-by to the old straw hive; we have now other uses 
for straw, than keeping it to hold honey and freeze bees in 
zero weather. 

In the march of improvement steam has taken the place 
of horse-power ; and for this great change every farm-horse 
should neigh approval, as it took them one week to fully 
recover from one day's tugging at the " sweeps," where 
some old, dusty brute of a driver kept pounding and lash- 
ing all teams but his own. Traction engines travel the 
highways, and the horses can tread behind, rejoicing over 
their introduction. Windmills are to be seen in different 
portions of the town, and he is a foolish man who will 
pump away his short life when Dame Nature only asks him 
to go down into his wallet and give the " Tornado," or some 
other machine, a chance to do the work. The day will 
surely come when the farmer's products will be hauled to 
market by some person or persons employing traction 
engines for this purpose, and the jolly owner taking his 
ease on a spring seat, while the ray of sunlight through 
steam and coal hauls him to market. 

As to area, the Town of Clarendon is six miles square, 
containing 20,836 acres. The assessed valuation in 1887 
was $917,674 of real property, and $78,290 of personal. 
The school districts, and parts of districts, number fourteen. 
Tn the assessment roll there is no regular division of arable, 
pasturage and woodland given, and, therefore, the historian 
can only describe the country as it appears from actual and 
patient observation. 

The Town of Clarendon has one village, called Claren- 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. . 13 

don, and originally known as Farwell's Mills, which we 
shall describe in our next chapter. The population is com- 
jDOsed chiefly of American-born citizens, with here and 
there a native of the Emerald Isle, with a slight sprinkling 
of English, Canadians and, occasionally, a colored individ- 
ual, to give variety. The last census gave a fraction over 
1,800, and the writer, in traveling over all portions of the 
town, is somewhat below this figure. Large families are, 
at present, very rare, and the Yankees are averse to num- 
bers in the household, at present, as they have been taught 
by experience that many mouths require much food, and 
many bodies the more clothing and great expense. Wlien 
the country was new this increase of children was an ad- 
vantage in many respects, as each member, in time, took a 
turn at the wheel of labor, and helped the parents to move 
over the highway of life. But style and fashion are tyrants, 
and their laws are generally as irrevocable as the edicts 
of the ancient Medes and Persians. The Clarendon women 
do not love slavery ; and there is no escape from this if the 
mother is tied up yearly in the house by helpless infants. 
And, as Clarendon goes, so goes the world ; which is per- 
fectly right and proper, seeing that we open wide the gates 
to all Europe, and thereby take the bread away from our 
own people, to feed the children of empires, kingdoms, 
dukedoms and petty provinces. 



HISTOKY OF CLARENDON, 



CHAPTER 11. 

FAEWELl's mills CLAEEXDOX. 

THE discoYeiT of the present mill-site, now included in 
what is known as the Village of Clarendon, was the 
result of an accident. Isaac Farwell, brother of Judge 
Eldredge Farwell, was, in 1810, living on the old Ridge 
road, near Farnsworth Corners, in the Town of Murray, 
which was taken from the Town of Gates in 1808. His 
horse had strayed from home, and, in looking for the lost, 
Eldredge Farwell followed its track along the borders of 
Sandy Creek, to tlie south and west, through the then Town 
of Sweden, and near the present home of William Stuckey, 
westward, until he was stojiped by the waterfall at the 
point where the present mills are located. 

Eldredge Farwell, the son of William and Bethel El- 
dredge Farwell, was born in Charlton, New Hampshire, 
March 6, 1770. He married Polly Richardson, daughter of 
John Richardson, at Fairfield, Franklin county, Vermont, 
September 25, 1799, who died in October, 1821, at Claren- 
don. Eldredge Farwell had, in 1808, owned land on the 
Triangle, before his purchase in Clarendon, or Sweden, in 
1811, on what was theu known as the Connecticut, or 
100,000 acre, tract. Milling privileges were considered 
very valuable in the wilderness, as the settlers were ready 
to take up land when the grain could be converted into 
food for the support of their families, and this induced 
Judge Farwell to contract for two lots, comprising about 
200 acres, and embracing the most of the territory on 
which the present village of Clarendon now stands. 



farwell's mills. 15 

Early in the month of March, 1811, Jndge Eldredge 
Farwell, with his wife and six children, Snsanna, William, 
Mary Ann, George W., Harry and Eldredge, made their 
way through the woods, from the Ridge road, marking 
the trees as they passed, and, at the point where the creek 
crosses the high av ay, near William Stnckey's, floated their 
goods as best they could across the swollen waters, and 
camped for the night under a large beech-tree, where now 
Orson Cook resides, on Brockport street. The whole 
country was one vast wilderness, and the judge, as he was 
afterward called, began the erection of his first log dwell- 
ing, where now the stone blacksmith-shop of Marvin Bra- 
man gives forth its anvil music. The judge's house was 
the first in town of which we have any knowledge ; and he 
at once proceeded to baild a saw-mill, which was finished 
the same year, 1811, and, following this, a grist-mill, 
which went into operation in 1814. From these enter- 
prises the settlement very soon became known as Farwell's 
Mills, and even now retains its name in different portions 
of the Union. The old saw-mill stood near the fall, at 
the side of the hill, where the path leads below the fine 
residence of William Wright, and the grist-mill this side, 
where the old foundation walls may be seen even now. 

Judge Farwell's log home was the central point for 
strangers to stop, when first coming into this new country, 
and one can readily imagine how cheerful its light must 
have been to the stranger who was seeking shelter in the 
wilds of Western New York, or halting on his foot-journey 
to talk over the promised land and its future advantages. 

Elisha Farwell, the first male child of Farwell's Mills, 
was born, as Elisha says, October 1, 1814, in the log-house, 
and, when he was grown up to be a lad, assisted his other 
brothers, George W. and Eldredge, to carry the mail to 
and from Byron Center, on horse-back, when the stages 
ran between Rochester and Buffalo, on the old Buffalo 



16 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

turnpike, which now leads out of Rochester by West Main 
street. At times the mail would be left at Dr. Taggart's 
west of Byron Center, and the route was opened only a 
short time before the Erie Canal was dug, which was fin- 
ished in October, 1825. The road over which the mail 
was carried was either by the Rock school-house, or to the 
west, by the Morse, thus avoiding the swamps. Elisha, 
with his mail-bag on a black horse, which his father pur- 
chased from David Sturges, was the first one to attempt 
the passage of this logway, and being frightened, he dis- 
mounted and led the horse, but returned on his back. 
Judge Farwell had a blacksmith-shop at the rear of his 
log-house. 

In 1822 the judge moved out of the little one-story 
frame tavern, where now Frank Tamblyn has his flouring 
mill, into the residence which he bought from J. M. Ham- 
ilton, the tanner, and here the first regular post-office was 
kept, the judge taking for his salary the proceeds of the 
office, which must have paid him but little in purse, and 
much in honor, as, at this time, the letters bore the address 
of Farwell's Mills. The appointment of the judge took 
place when the county was organized, in 1824, and he was, 
also, the first justice, as well as the first supervisor, in the 
town. In the old log-house, where pettifoggers loved to 
abuse each other, the judge would sit, with brow austere, 
and preserve as good order as those hickory days would 
allow. It would really have pleased the orators of that 
time, could they have been allowed good chairs on wliich to 
rest, after they had wearied both court and client by their 
mighty exertions, instead of sitting on benches that were 
tougher than their cases. 

The timber for the first grist-mill was cut in 1811, and 
the price of one dollar a day given as wages, help being very 
scarce, and the laborers few. In this mill Ambrose Fer- 
guson was the jolly miller that saw the "corn grinding 



faewell's mills. 17 

small," during the year 1814, and he received twenty dollars 
per month, which was extraordinary pay, when we consider 
the scarcity of money. The first mill had two run of stone, 
and one of them may be seen at present just where the 
walk passes at the corner of the M. E. Church; and the 
other, Alexander Miller and Wm. H. Cooper used for years 
to set their tires on, at the old red shop, now owned by L. 
A. Lambert. These stones were procured from the land 
now held by Col. N. E. Darrow, and the large timbers were 
hewn out of upland pine, by Orlin Spafford, that grew 
seventy feet in height, on the colonel's property. 

A second saw-mill also stood just below the present mill- 
race, where the mooley saw went screaming and tearing 
through the logs, while the water poured upon the over- 
shot wheel. This shanty mill was a favorite spot in our 
boyhood days, when the saw was silent, and we loved to 
run in and under the wheel, while the water was giving ns 
a bath. John Irish was one of the sawyers in this mill, 
and his lantern could be seen winding up the hillside, or, 
like some fire-bug, moving in and out in the pitchy dark- 
ness of the night. But the old boards and planking have 
long since disappeared, the wheel has ceased its revolu- 
tions, the saw no longer plays, and the spot can hardly be 
jDointed out, only by the finger of careful memory. 

The first blacksmith at the " Mills " was Henry Jones, in 
1813, and he lived in a log-house, where now the stone res- 
idence of Peter Stehler stands, on the Wyman road. Just 
below the residence of William Wright, nestled deeply in 
the hill-side, is a bubbling spring, that sends its pure and 
sparkling waters across the path that has been traveled by 
many weary feet, that now rest by the way-side of life. 
Pipes were laid by David Sturges and Joseph Sturges, to 
carry the water from this spring into the house where the 
author's mother was born in 1817, where now Marvin Bra- 
man has his home, and which was the first frame dwelling 



18 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

in the town. The privilege of using this water was consid- 
ered so great, that Ambrose Phillips, across the way, gave 
twenty dollars to have the water conveyed into his home. 
What of that spring now ? It ripples through the pepper- 
mint, hardly noticed, unless it be in the season of heavy 
rains, and even then a six-inch pipe will discharge its 
outflow. 

There was a tannery in the rear of Charles Elliott's 
house, which was built by J. M. Hamilton, and in this 
building corn was ground by horse-power, and the labor on 
the leather was done by hand. In 1887, while Charles 
Elliott was digging his present cellar, one of these vats 
was opened, and a perfect hide brought to light, which 
must have lain in the liquor for some fifty-five years, as 
the tannery was not closed before 1832. Alanson Dudley 
was a tanner and carrier, and the chief one who had charge 
of the mechanical part in the Hamilton Tannery, and he 
owned lands on the south side of Brockport street, as far 
to the east as the limits of Alphonso D. Cook's possessions, 
and joining William D. Dudley to the south, wdiere now 
the Church estate controls. 

When the saw-mill of 1811 had become so old that the 
timbers were in danger, Ira Phillips rebuilt it in 1845, and 
this remained until the erection of the new saw-mill upon 
the present site in 1852, which was finished in 1853. John 
S. Grinnell had bought out Major, the son of David Stur- 
ges, in the grist-mill, and at once contracted with D. F. 
St. John to put up a new saw-mill, attaching this to the 
present grist-mill. The large 24-foot overshot water-wheel 
was St. John's workmanship, and the shingle-machine on 
the second floor was put up by David Nicholson, of Lock- 
port, in 1853. How often have we, with other lads, gazed 
in admiration upon this machine, as the bolts moved upon 
the sliding carriage endwise, and were soon cut into shin- 
gles of even thickness and length. One shilling a bunch 



faewell's mills. 19 

was the price paid for packing these shingles, and Charles 
Sturges, of Chicago, can well remember how hard he 
labored to put the bright silver in his purse. 

On the first floor of this new saw-mill was a buzz-saw 
for cutting lath, which the younger lads packed, at five 
cents a bunch, in a wooden frame, and then tied with tar 
strings, one hundred lath. In this buzz-saw Sim. Whipple 
caught his fingers, which Dr. Button amputated in good 
style; Whipple all the time screaming as if being mur- 
dered. What a place for logs this saw-mill has been! The. 
farmers, when the first snow comes, betake themselves to 
Tonawanda, and there, in the depths of cedar, pine, hem- 
lock, tamarack, ash and soft maple, work like beavers in 
getting out the logs, and then hauling them for miles to 
be cut into lumber. In former days, the mulley saw in an 
upright frame did the work, and gangs of men had their 
tricks by day and night, of twelve hours each. James Dal- 
ton we well remember as one of the chief sawyers ; and to 
us it seemed very wonderful that he could pick up a chip, 
or piece of bark, from the saw-dust, and at once tell us 
from what kind of tree it came. To look back through 
memory's glass, and behold the workers in this mill, is a 
pleasing thought. There stands the boss sawyer, as the 
log is rolled onto the carriage, fastening in the dogs, then 
stepping back, with his foot and hand letting on the water, 
and sending the log to meet the shining teeth of the noisy 
saw. Zee ! how the bark flies, and the saw-dust fills the air, 
covering the sawyer, so that for the moment he is lost to 
view, and as the old woman said, " one cannot hear himself 
think." Gather up the saw-dust and tell me how many 
thousand logs were here cut in pieces before Miller & Pet- 
tingill introduced the circular saw in 1880. 

The author, when only a " gamin," was hotly pursuing 
two other lads, who were bound to leave him in the dim 
distance. They skipped down Byron street toward the 



20 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

mill, while he, as a cut-off, ran barefooted around the old 
stoue shop, where the farmers were in the habit of draw- 
ing away their lumber, when sawed. Near by the creek, 
his cross eye discovered a large pocket-book, wide open, 
with papers scattered about. In a moment these were 
gathered up, and the wallet was found to contain a number 
of bills, which the wind had left undisturbed. Good-by, 
then, to the mill and the boys, while the toes of the author 
were headed for the stone store, where the anxious face of 
the father, as usual, met us at the counter. When the bills 
were counted, the heavy sum of fifty dollars was the total 
amount — the notes calling for different payments. After 
two or three days of very earnest inquiry, the father handed 
the finder three ten-cent pieces, as the reward of honesty 
and boy luck. The owner who left this magnificent 
bounty has long since laid down the lumber of this life, 
and we sincerely hope that dimes have no weight with him 
on the other side. 

All over this mighty land are scattered old boys who 
once loved to stop in front of some pine log, and with a 
stick scrape away the pitch which oozed therefrom, and 
after boiling take it to school for the sweet peach-blossom 
girls to roll between their cherry lips. Ah, me ! It was 
this gummy habit which brought one teacher to say, "I 
will give you five minutes to make up your mind whether 
you will take a ferruling, or leave school ! " The beautiful 
girl changed as marble and crimson, walked sadly back to 
her desk, packed her books, and then, with tears on her 
heart and in her eyes, closed the school door for the last 
time. In a short period she passed away to that land of 
loving words, where the teachers have no unkind thoughts, 
or harsh expressions that wound the soul. All of the 
scholars will rejoice to meet you, Rosalind, in that happy 
school "■ over there ! " 

In 1838, in the spring, Seth Knowles, the son of Seth 



farwell's mills. 21 



Knowles, Sr., who lived on the Hulberton road, entered 
into a contract with Eldredge Farwell and Remnick Knowles 
to lay the stone walls of the present grist-mill. He em- 
ployed as masons Jerry Ward, Levi Woodbury, Lawrence 
Bovee, of Clarkson, William Knowles and Levi Davis. The 
material was quarried out in an abandoned quarry, which 
may now be seen just back of Miller & Pettingill's evapo- 
rator, and was of a deep gray, having somewhat the 
appearance of the stone in the Buffalo City Buildings. 
The hydraulic cement was taken from the hills, burnt, and 
then ground in the old Farwell grist-mill. The contract 
for furnishing this mill was given to Ezra R. Benton, of 
Cleveland, Ohio ; and he employed, as his chief millwright, 
Aruna St. John, father of D. F. St. John, who also assisted 
his father in the work, and placed the present large wheels 
in position. Martin Dewey, Horace Dewey and Abel Davis, 
were the assistant millwrights ; and Cook was the carpen- 
ter from Rochester. All the castings, and two of the mill- 
stones, of French burr, came from Ohio City, now em- 
braced in the limits of Cleveland. The timber was mostly 
elm, with oak girders from Clarendon. The shingles wt re 
of hemlock, shaved, and these were undisturbed from 1838 
until 1868, when D. F. St. John re-covered' the old ro-»f. 
The cost of this mill was about $4,000 ; a very good outlay 
for Clarendon. Kirby, Knickerbocker, Hickman, Kellogg, 
Vallance, Dunning, Riggs, D. N. Pettingill, and Tamblyn, 
were some of the former millers. 

In 1873, the grist-mill and saw-mill passed into the 
hands of Ogden S. Miller and Walter T. Pettingill, who 
are at present the owners of the saw-mill, the grist-mill 
having been sold to Charles Riggs in 1886, who introduced 
rollers, the first in town, in 1887 ; and this now furnishes the 
finest of flour, not only for the home market, but also for 
towns surrounding. 

In 1857, Copeland, Pettingill and Martin contracted 



22 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

with Mack, of Lockport, to place a forty-horse-power 
engine and boiler in the basement of the present grist- 
mill, for the purpose of running both mills when there 
was not a sufficient supply of water, which was yearly 
diminishing. Until 1878 this engine remained where 
Mack placed it, performing its labors in beautiful perfec- 
tion, when Miller & Pettingill erected an engine-house to 
the eastward, and in that year replaced the old Woodbury 
boiler with a new one, the original engine doing its work 
as handsomely as ever, with the labor of the grist-mill, 
saw-mill, evaporator and planing-mill combined. Above 
■the saw-mill stands a large building, which Miller & 
Pettingill built for the purpose of drying and evaporating 
apples by the sulphur and steam process. This new indus- 
try some years turns out nearly two hundred tons of fruit, 
and gives employment to a large force of men and women. 
Below the mills may be seen the vinegar house, which has 
all the modern appliances for converting cider into vinegar. 

The cider- vinegar evaporating business of Miller & Pettin- 
gill, which employs over eighty men and women, is only 
surpassed by a few in the state, and the purchase of apples 
for evaporation amounts, on certain days, to one thousand 
dollars, the teams coming from all the different roads to 
empty their apples into the hands of these buyers. This 
firm has extended their business to Holley, where immense 
cider and vinegar houses may be seen, illustrating what 
Clarendon boys can do when they have a chance to show 
their hands. 

No other two residents have, at any time in her history, 
done so much to bring money into the town and give 
employment to labor during the most of the year. At 
one time this firm bought tw^o hundred acres of Tona- 
wanda at very low figures, while others considered it 
unprofitable, and the result has been good lumber yards 
on the Byron road and ready sales for the supply. 



farwell's mills. 23 

The first regular store at the " Mills " was kept by Den man 
Brainerd, in the building which is now occupied as a 
dwelling by N. H. Darrow, on the corner of Byron and 
Brockport streets. In 1821 came in Hiram Frisbie & 
Pierpoint in the same place, and in 1829 David Sturges 
took this stand, in what was known as the old red 
store, which he occupied until he built the stone establish- 
ment in 1836, at the junction of Main, Holley and Albion 
streets. 

Benjamin Copeland, who died in Clarendon, at the age 
of 87, was once a member of the Legislature of Michigan, 
and also a merchant at Webster's Mills, in Kendall, and 
at one time a partner with David Sturges in this store. 
He was the most perfect conversationalist that Clarendon 
has known ; a graduate, in 1814, of Brown University, 
Providence, R. I., and a private tutor at Natchez, Missis- 
sippi, where the great ornithologist, Audubon, formed his 
acquaintance, and retouched his own portrait, which is at 
present in his widow's possession at Washington. Uncle 
Benjamin, as we loved to call him, was a very good story- 
teller, and we were always ready to listen when he began 
his tales. Once upon a time, when returning from the 
sunny South, in company with gentlemen, riding through 
the wilderness to Washington and other points north, he 
was made the steward as to eatables and drinkables. It 
was his habit to push ahead on his steed and inform the 
log landlords that meals must be prepared for his friends 
in the rear. Hiding up to a log inn, about eleven a. m., 
he informed mine host that he must prepare to feed at 
dinner a number of guests who were very hungry, having 
passed many a weary mile since breakfast. " But I am 
all eat out," said the landlord. " You must provide some- 
thing," replied Copeland. " I have nothing in the house 
but a dead panther," came from the host's lips. '' Well, 
then, cook this up, and I will take a crust of bread, as 



2tl: HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

my stomach is too delicate to digest panther !" By the 
time the party had arrived the panther was on the spit 
over the fire-place in the kitchen, and Uncle Benjamin 
escorted the anxious travelers into a rude sitting-room. 
They could snuflf the fine flavor of the broiling meat, and 
from the very depths of their stomachs wished to know 
what delicious flesh he was preparing for their dinner. 
" 0, wait and see ! " was the happy reply ; and in due time 
these voracious guests sat down to dine, and filled their 
hunger-casks with heavy supplies of what they considered 
to be roast pork of the finest quality. The steward ex- 
cused himself from eating, pleading a headache, which was 
very natural. After promising to tell his friends of what 
they had so royally partaken, he waited until the panther 
had lost itself in the system, and then, with a sly twinkle 
from his black eyes, murmured " Panther I " About one 
dozen mouths vainly attempted to heave from below all 
that they had eaten, but Dame Nature had been too speedy 
in her labors, and they went their way, realizing one fact,, 
that the mind very often considers ignorance as bliss. 

David Sturges, the proprietor of the old red store from 
1829 until 1836, and then in the stone store which he 
built, until his death, in September, 1843, was, in his day, 
the prince merchant of Clarendon. He owned land in 
different portions of the town, had his fine chaise, that, in 
1840, cost $250.00 in New York, and drove a spanking 
team, the best around ; a self-made man, who, had he lived, 
would have been one of the millionaires of the country. 
His first frame-house, where Marvin Braman now resides, 
was built about 1816, and must have been a genuine sur- 
prise to the old log dwellings at the *' j\Iills." In 1830,. 
he had a brick house near the site of the present brick 
home of Martha and Sarepta Evarts, on Brockport street, 
Avhich he built, where he passed away, at the age of 52, 
from the effects of a cancer, preceded by amputation. Dr. 



farwell's mills. 25 

Coates, of Batavia, performed this operation, when only 
whisky could be given as an anesthetic, but he stood it 
like a Nelson, although one person fainted away at the 
sight. The fine maple trees, that waved so proudly before 
his last home, he placed in the soil, and the large orchards 
are the result of his labors. The stone store at the head 
of Main street, which David Sturges lifted into the air in 
1836, was one of the best to be found in any country town 
of that day. It was modeled somewhat after the Hulberton 
of 1834, but is superior in finish and beauty, and still 
opens wide its doors to business, while the other stands 
lonely and deserted, with holes in the windows, a mournful 
relic of the enterj^rise of Epineta and Hercules Eeed, who 
long ago passed to their reward. And thus it is, that one 
generation falls asleep, even by the monuments of other 
days ! 

For a short time Elizur Piatt sold goods where now 
David Wetherbee's shoe-shop meets the eye; but David 
Sturges purchased the stock, and this closed Piatt's mer- 
cantile life in Clarendon. In the old red store Perley Ains- 
worth attended to the w^ants of customers in the tin line, 
and all that was left of the stock was transferred by David 
Sturges in 1836. Zina Sturges controlled a small grocery^ 
where one could purchase articles in his line of trade. 

About 1835 Eldredge Farwell, Jr., opened a new store in 
the building now occupied as a dwelling by D. R. Bartlett, 
on Holley street, which was too near Sturges' store for com- 
fort or convenience. This was soon swallowed up by 
Sturges, and his son-in-law, George M. Oopeland, stepped 
inside and took the management, in 1842, until the follow- 
ing year, on the sickness of Sturges, this store was closed, 
the goods changed, and from that day until the present, 
with a short interregnum, George M. Oopeland, the father 
of the author, has been in business. He first began his 
clerkship under David Sturges, in 1830, at the age of fifteen, 
2 



26 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

and has, in all probability, traveled more miles around 
counters than any man of his age in the whole country. 
A careful computation of the hours which he has spent, 
from 1830 up to 1888, would make about twenty-nine years 
of solid application to business, in days of twenty-four 
hours each. As the sailor says, he is always on deck, about 
fourteen hours each day. While other merchants have 
gone down in the great maelstrom of bankruptcy and fail- 
ure, he still swings his flag to the breezes of trade, at the 
hearty age of seventy-three, and bids fair to outweather the 
^ales of adversity, until death anchors him peacefully in 
the harbor where no longer customers and bills will demand 
his time and daily care. 

Julius H. Royce, of Albion, who lost his life while at- 
tempting to cross the railroad track, at Main street, in 
Albion, the present year, was at one time a harness-maker 
in Clarendon, but rose from a stitcher to be a block-owner, 
before passing away. 

Before the erection of Sturges' store a finger-board 
pointed the way to Albion, Holley and Byron, giving the 
distances, and it would be well if the same rule had opera- 
tion now. 

Daniel Gr. Lewis had a shoe-shop, at first, above Sturges^ 
store, and when Col. Shubel Lewis first looked up and saw 
the sign he exclaimed, " D. G. Lewis — D — d good, Lewis !'^ 
which was quite appropriate, and reminds us of that old, 
familiar piece, '* G. F. M. — Good, fat mutton." Afterward 
Lewis built him a small red shop, just on the side of the 
hill, below the home of Warren Millard, on Preston street, 
Avhere he lasted for some time, and pegged the hours away. 
This old shop was still standing in our day, and we have 
listened to many a yarn from the bench of Crispin Brown. 

The first tailor, of which we have any mention, was one 
Evarts, but where he handled the goose, or cut his cloth to 
measure, we are unable to state. Joseph A. Bryan, for 



farwell's mills. 27 

years, was above Sturges' store, cutting and fitting, and his 
clothes were always made to order. He has since moved 
into HoUey, and, at a ripe old age, can enjoy the fruits of his 
life, and, with a happy smile, sail down the .stream of life. 
We can, in our mind's eye, see Mansfield moving along, 
with his crutches, to and from his tailor-shop. In the 
early days he was a stifi'Universalist, and believed that the 
good and bad would occupy the same station in the world 
to come. His son, Ernest, would run into the shop, and 
then run out again, well loaded with Ballou ideas, which 
the father had pressed into his soul's woof. Over the fence 
we would have the argument, hot and heavy, until both 
were ready to fight or die, over the doctrine of eternal 2)un- 
ishment. Albion cured Mansfield of such folly, and he 
has now swung, like a pendulum, over to the Hard-shell 
Baptists, who hope to commune, in another world, as they 
have in this, by themselves. 

The dapper, dandy tailor was Moses Hofi'man. His shop 
was above the Copeland store, where he loved, at times, to 
have the boys come, and then get them by the ears over his 
yarns. We well remember one of those tales, in which 
more than one was interested, and how Moses laughed at 
our soberness. He had two sons, Moses and Elias, in no- 
wise related to the original, only through Adam, as we are 
informed, and believe to be true. His wife, Almira, worked 
at our old home for nine years, and was one that we all 
loved from babyhood. How many hours she spent over the 
old cradle in our house, the good Lord only knows; but 
this we do feel, that in heaven there will be some to meet 
her, and give her the perfect kiss of aff'ection. 

Judge Eldredge Farwell and Eobert Owen called the 
people of the " Mills " together, to establish a public library, 
and the judge was the first librarian. This was the nucleus 
around which gathered volume after volume until, in 1855, 
Clarendon had 1,600 books for free circulation in district 



28 HISTORY OF CLAKENDON. 

schools, many of them purchased by George M. Oopeland^ 
in 1846, and every page worthy the attention of all lovers 
of good literature. Where are these volumes in 1888 ? 
One look into any school will demonstrate that they have 
passed away, never again to be seen or read by the scholars 
of the present day. The age has turned upon its heel, and 
the "light, fantastic toe" has trodden the pages under its 
heedless foot. 

The old residents will remember the distillery, which Avas 
set in operation by Joseph Sturges, in 1815, and Avho left 
this world in 1829, aged thirty-nine. Sturges sent his 
teams below the last home of George S. Salisbury, on the 
Holley road, and drew his butternut timber down by the 
mills, near the creek, and there the coru-juice flowed until 
1830. This was a noted still, the country round, and the 
extract of corn was sold at two shillings per gallon, war- 
ranted not to kill, or give the ^^ jim-jams," unless the 
drinker made a hog of himself. If the old wooden bottles 
could come back once more, or the little brown jugs of the- 
home and the harvest-field, what a tale they would relate 
of their " taking-oS !" There was a large storehouse near 
the still, in which the grain was housed for the manufac- 
ture of this beverage. Uncle Joe, in overlooking the state 
of his grain, made a false step, and, like a bear, rolled down 
the first landing, from the upper story, and then, quite 
gently, bumped his head and body, until he reached the 
ground floor. Picking himself from the boards, he took 
one glance upward, and said, " I guess I get along some, by 
G — d !" He was an eccentric character, but his heart and 
purse were ever open to his friends ; and, according to 
Horace Peck, he ofi'ered his brother Luther, the noted 
lawyer, of Nunda, $500 at one time, when he was studying 
law at Pike, in Allegany county, of this state, after Sturges 
had traveled from Clarendon for this purpose. 

Eldredge Farwell had a pearl and potash factory on 



FARWELL S MILLS 



's MILLS. 29 



^the land now owned by G. Henry Copeland, partner of 
George M. Copeland, on Holley street, and, nearly op- 
posite, Erastus Cone had one of the same character, near 
the spring which formerly supplied the water for the 
trough on the Church property. Below the creek to the 
south, on Byron street, stood the old Sturges ashery, 
which was afterwards used by tenants and mechanics. 
Here D. F. St. John had a shop where he made coffins, 
all the way from $3.00 up to $10.00. When David Sturges 
was buried, his coffin cost $25.00, which was consid- 
ered very expensive for 1843. It was of mahogany, and 
lined with silk velvet, the most beautiful coffin that the 
Clarendon living had seen. In a later period T. G. McAl- 
lister kept a supply of these cheap burial-cases on hand, 
until Holley came to the front, and then the uncalled-for 
were, we were told, stowed away in the big barn on Wood- 
ruff avenue. We have no doubt but that the Clarendon 
bodies rested as peacefully in the pine coffins, as they do 
now in rosewood, walnut, and broadcloth. 

David Harris had a smithy in a shanty, just in front of 
the plastered house occupied by George B. Lawrence, which 
he built in 1832. This shop was the principal one, until 
the Miller stone shop, now owned by Marvin Braman. 
Below this shop, where now William H. Cooper has his barns, 
was a noted furnace, sanded by Martin Coy, and for years 
in the possession of Alexander Miller, by whom the red 
furnace was shingled, and the molds put iuto use. Miller 
carried on an extensive business in the red shop, in the 
making of castings and the manufacture of carriages ; but 
time has closed all this, and the shop is seldom used. The 
town has had some noted blacksmiths in the past, among 
whom we might mention Sol. Woodward, who now lives in 
Ilhnois, William H. Cooper, who has retired from business, 
Lower, Harris, and Stevens. % 

How often have we taken our seat near the forge, and 



30 HISTOEY OF CLAEEXDOX. 

watched the smith as he blew the bellows^ hardened the^ 
steel, pounded out his nails, held on to some vicious brute, 
or listened to the wonderful stories which these children 
of soot and dust are able to tell ! At present Clarendon 
can only boast of two that swing the sledge, and shoe the 
unruly steed : Marvin Braman in the old stone shop on 
Main street, and Patrick McKeon on Brockport street. 
Long may they both live, and retire with handsome for- 
tunes, that will enable them to take things by the smooth 
handle, without kicking, pounding, or sweating in the 
journey of life. 

In the old red store, after a number of years, Ephraim 
McAllister, or " Mac," as he was often called, opened a 
sliop for the making and repair of wagons. All around 
could be seen hubs, felloes, spokes, and many other articles 
too numerous to mention ; while overhead was timber, 
which had been seasoning for many a year, waiting for 
customers. One Mills had a wagon and paint-shop in that 
portion of T. G-. McAllister's house now occupied by Jay 
Northway as a dwelling. In 1855 Charles Elliott was in 
the old red shop, making bob-sleighs, wagons and wood- 
work generally, and may be found to-day busily using his 
tools in his shop near the creek, on Byron street. The 
wear and tear upon wagons has been so very great on Clar- 
endon roads, that constant mending and making has been 
the order of the day since its history began. 

In 1821 Philip Preston entered Clarendon, and his old 
home is now the residence of his grandson, George P. Pres- 
ton. Not far from the house Philip had a turning-lathe, 
where cucumber-bowls and all other implements were 
turned out, as the demand required. He was a very good 
workman, and ever ready to give information to any 
inquisitive lad who was anxious to know the mysteries of 
Jiis skill. 

Hamilton, the tanner, had a shoe-shop in the old yellow 



farwell's mills. 31 

house on Brockport street, which must have been in opera- 
tion in 1821, as this residence became the property of Judge 
Farwell in 18.22. For many years Dutcher cobbled, cut 
and made boots and shoes in what is now known as the 
Elliott building on Byron street. 

In 1831 the only two buildings on Judge Farwell's prop- 
erty, from Main street east, were the joresent house of Hor- 
ace Coy, and the big barn, the timbers of which were 
scored in 1818, making this perhaps as old, if not older, 
than any other in town ; and both the house and barn are 
good illustrations of the judge's character and ability to 
stand the storms of life. 

Mrs. D. F. St. John informs us that there were no 
painted buildings in Clarendon in 1832, save the red store 
of David Sturges. Hamilton built the house which holds 
William H. Cooper, and, where Charles Elliott slumbers, 
this formerly had its gable to Byron street, but was 
turned into its present position many years later. John 
Farwell raised the rafters of the old Luke Turner house, 
where Corydon Northway and his happy wife can look 
out upon Holley street, enjoying the comforts of every-day 
life. 

In 1829 there was no frame building north of David 
Harris's smithy, on Main street, until Jonathan Howard's 
house was reached, where at the same time was residing 
Alvin Hood, who was studying medicine with the doctor. 
In this home Amasa Patterson has gone in and out for 
many years, and the author regrets that he had not inter- 
viewed Mrs. Patterson before she left this beautiful world 
for one more beautiful. At this time Oliver Phelps had a 
fulling and carding-mill near the bridge, beyond the old 
dam. The quaint dwelling in which AVarren Millard fig- 
ures up how many rods of wall he lays yearly, was shingled 
by Bradley Williams in 1825, and under the same roof, 
many years ago. Elder Fish offered up prayer. The wood- 



32 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

work on the Sturges store was done by Wood and Ira B. 
Keeler, and the stone- work by William Knowles and 
others. 

In 1831 Judge Far well inclosed his stately mansion, 
where now Horace Coy and family open wide the doors to 
receive their friends. This was considered the grandest 
dwelling in all the town at this time, and for years Job 
Potter, the father of Job L. and Albert Potter, reposed his 
well-fed body in its airy rooms. The architecture of that 
day was heavy and massive, and the timbers of cyclonic 
strength. The only way to tear down one of these old 
mansions, is to place a little nitro-glycerine under the four 
corners, and await the result ; as all time taken by any 
slower process, save burning, is only a waste of labor, 
money and opportunity. 

Elisha, the son of Judge Farwell, who has the best gar- 
den in Clarendon, on Albion street, has a table in his pos- 
session which his mother used in the old log-house of 1811. 
She was a noble woman, and died in 1821, the same year 
that the town was organized, and along with J. M. Hamil- 
ton's daughter, were the first burials. The old ashery. 
owned by David Sturges, was a very handy place for the 
good people to sell their wood-ashes; and the storehouse 
for grain was ever ready to take in all the products which 
the farmers raised. These were great advantages, as cash 
was very scarce, and some families only had ash money 
from one year's end to the other. 

The barn of Hamilton was drawn up to where Gordon 
St. John smiles upon his family, and in whose front room 
the noted Dr. Southworth passed away. Formerly Simeon 
Howard listened very early to hear the chanticleer, when 
the barn was changed into a dwelling. In 1832, the 
upright portion of John Church's house, on Holley street, 
was raised, and here died Darwin, the first son, at seven 
years of age. The beautiful elm that stands just by the 



farwell's mills. 33 

large gate of this homestead was a sapling at this day, and 
was only allowed to grow at the request of Mrs. Church. 
The large willows to the north were taken by Albert M. 
Church, in 1848, from the old Luke Turner place, when 
John S. Gunnell, with his fine family, had residence here. 
The assessment roll of 1821 locates Enos Dodge on the 
Church estate, and his eyes knew it when every acre had 
heavy timber. 

Amanda Annis, widow of George S. Salisbury, remem- 
bers of attending her first funeral in David Sturges' frame 
house, in 1820. Where the barn of Edward ^ay now 
stands on Phillips street, Rodgers had the frame of a house 
some time in the thirty's. The only house in the village 
on Albion street, in '35, was Benjamin Pettingill's, where 
the noted Spencer Coleman figured up mortgages, and 
attempted to beat Clarendon out of taxes, but has finally 
left and moved away to Brockport, where the assessors 
have a keen eye upon his transactions. The old stone 
store, which was burnt up in 1885, when kept by N. H. 
Darrow as hardware and tin, had regular merchants in the 
persons of Sherwood, T. E. G. and D. jS^. Pettingill, 
William Lewis and others, from 1845 to 1856, where David 
Wetherbee and John Westcott had a shoe store until 
1863, when Henry Warren converted it into a tin-shop, 
followed by William H. Westcott as hardware merchant 
up to N. H. Darrow's occupancy. 

The first regular dressmaker in Clarendon village was 
Martha Stuckey in 1 864, Mary Weed in 1875, and Jennie 
Hughes in 1877, who may still be found at all business 
hours, willing to wait on her customers who have built 
up for her a good trade, above Copeland's store at the 
head of Main street. 

In the days of the past the good women of Clarendon 
had their dresses fitted by some neighbor, as simplicity 
was the rule, and fashion had not then stepped to the 



34 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

front and laid down its iron finger. Now Clarendon 
imitates the great cities, and her fashion plates are fresh 
importations. The boys get their fancy suits away from 
home, while the girls buy the material in Buffalo, Rochester 
or some other center of trade, and graciously allow the 
home merchant to furnish the minor trimmings and keep 
up the calico and gingham trade. Mrs. William Westcott, 
now of Holley, at one time had the trimmings for bonnets 
in Clarendon, and in 1866 Thirza Stuckey (Mrs. Joseph 
Turner) opened up a full line of millinery goods, and her 
trade is so great that the ladies hardly allow her to have 
Sunday, so anxious are they to appear at church in spring, 
summer, fall and winter hats. We can well remember 
hitching up old Jack and taking our mother, who was the 
daughter of David Sturges and the wife of George M. 
Copeland, the head merchant of town, to Brockport, when 
she would take out of the buggy, some twenty years old, a 
band-box, in which was a plain straw bonnet, which Miss 
Gibbs would fix over by the addition of a few ribbons. 
Ah ! mother, you passed away before the day of show and 
style reached the town in which you was born, and you 
were fortunate ! 

When Frank Wilson entered Clarendon he began to 
butcher, not only for the village, but the farmers,' and 
women looked out in astonishment upon a cart that 
brought meat to their very doors. Pork, cod-fish, salt- 
fish and a quarter of beef, perhaps, in the winter, made up 
the meat bill of the old families generally ; but the Preston 
Brothers run out carts from their stand on Main street 
every day, except Sunday, and support their households in 
the best of order and convenience. 

If Judge Farwell had been told that a barber-shop 
would have been supported in his Clarendon he would 
have stropped his razor and put on a very wondering look. 
Alvah Sturges has been here in that capacity, and to-day 



FAR WELL S MILLS 



35 



Gordon St. John occupies a building where once doctors 
made people howl, and he shaves them as comfortably as in 
Buffalo or Rochester. Note the change ! An old bench 
and broken looking-glass, or the clock's face, with a 
wooden or iron bowl for water, and a razor, one of Wades 
& Butcher's, with the children, a dozen or more, very close 
by, and the shaver wondering w^hether he will cut his 
throat before he finishes the job I Xow, a barber's chair, 
where you can drop back, and for ten cents take life easy, 
while Gordon moves over the face, and then pomades and 
perfumes the sitter in the latest mode. 

Who would have told Judge Farwell or Dor Kellogg of 
roller flour? Hungary has brought her lessons to Clar- 
endon, and Minneapolis echoes the music of her mills in 
the stone grist-mill on Farwell street, that Eldridge Far- 
well and Remnick Knowles were so proud in building, 
where only the burr stones made melody in time with 
the plashing of the wheels below^ Good-by to the ruins 
of the old tavern ! Tamblyn has brought life and activity 
once more on the corner, and Main street can have the 
farmer, with products, where the stranger and the citizen 
met to discuss the issues that were as black as accursed 
slavery. 

Rising above the hill, to the north of Albion street, is a 
puff" of smoke that moves as the wind may take it. Out 
of the Murphy lime-kiln it comes, the fire-bricks at first 
placed there by Ira Phillips before the rebellion. Who 
can tell the tons of lime-rock this open-mouthed furnace 
has taken in since that day? Who figure up the cords 
of wood it has yearly consumed ? And still the burning 
goes on, increasing as building and population, and shortly 
another kiln will be needed. 

James Winn, one of Clarendon's carpenters, built for his 
home the house on the corner of Albion and Hulberton 
streets, where William Wetherbee and his sister Sarah have 



36 . HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

a fine view of the crowds that attend the camp when the 
season opens. On the opposite corner, S. Herbert Cope- 
land has greatly improved the premises, and he resides in 
the identical dwelling that Abner Hopkins built, and 
which was the first frame house on Barre road and one of 
the oldest in town. This house was moved to its present 
location by Merritt Blighton. For many years Henry 0. 
Martin, now of Oakfield, went back and forth from the 
residence now held by George Turner, on the corner of 
Phillips and Albion streets, to converse with his customers, 
in the old Sturges store, where, for twenty years, he was 
partner with George M. Oopeland. The solid stone house 
just beyond was the homestead of Ira Phillips (and now the 
residence of Mrs. Culver), from which the street derives its 
name. A blacksmith's shop once stood where now John 
Boots prepares his wagons for the United States mail 
service, and one Patterson was the son of Vulcan. Old 
Captain Stephen Martin had his earthly home at the last 
where T. E. G. Pettingill set out the beautiful maples 
over thirty years ago, and where now the ladies can find 
Thirza at the front door ready to make their counte- 
nances smile and their heads to bloom with adornment. 

The beautiful view which Lyman Preston has from his 
home on Preston street, was once enjoyed by Alexander 
Miller, who also built the fine residence of Cyrus Foster, 
at the union of Farwell and Preston streets. Eldredge 
Farwell, with his beautiful wife and happy family, in our 
boyhood days, lived where David N. Pettingill and his 
estimable lady passed into the spirit-land. Many are the 
pleasant hours we have spent in this house, when life 
was one ^^ring around the rosy," and the hours were as 
sweet as the flowers of May. The old Mill house is once 
more in the hands of Charles Riggs, but where is George, 
who loved to load the cannon with us, until one fine day 
it burst and came very near tearing our bodies asunder ? 



fakwell's mills. 37 

Stephen Church still holds his own, the first boy born 
outside of the village, but his hair has silvered for many 
a year, and his home on Byron street, at the foot of Far- 
well street, has the same familiar look that it has worn 
in the years gone by. 

Aurin Grlidden has greatly improved his place by the 
setting out of small fruit, such as quinces and berries of 
different varieties, and if the old residents of Clarendon 
were once more to return they would not know the spot. 
Across the way Isaac H. Kelly touches the hill-side, and is 
well sheltered from the blasts that sweep into the valley 
below. A little to the northward is Dell Mower, who now 
receives the comforts of life where Lyman Preston, one 
of the old house-painters, bade the world good-by and 
laid down life's brush forever. David P. Wilcox sojourns 
in the dwelling once occupied by Drs. Keith and Watson ; 
but the place has changed since that day. The Orson 
Millard property now calls Osee Crittenden in to eat and 
slumber, and as his neighbor, G. Henry Copeland, the 
merchant, now rules where Morris Dewey had his last sick- 
ness. He has greatly benefited this place by his coming, 
and made it not only to increase in beauty of appearance, 
but also in actual worth. Levant Jenkins has left his 
former quarters over the way on Holley street, to try the 
air of Nebraska, and will again return when the hay fever 
has left his system. 

In the old cobble-stone and plaster house of Joseph A. 
Bryan, on Albion street, just at the entrance to the lime- 
kiln, Dr. Dutton for many years looked at the sick or 
prepared to visit his patients. Now Michael Murphy can 
use this for his lime-burners, and Wright hook up his mules 
in the barn at the rear. Down on Woodrufl" avenue David 
Mower is continually imj^roving his property, and just 
beyond Nicholas Lee has his quiet home, where the bolts 
and staves, with the busy cooper-shop, demonstrate that 



38 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

he is bound to hammer his way through life. There, on 
the opposite side, is the jolly Mansfield, as full of fun as 
an egg is of meat, and never allowing rivers of tears to 
flood his passage over the highway of life. John Gillis, 
with his hammer and trowel, may be seen daily moving 
to his labors on Woodruff avenue, while Edgar Grillis is 
just as willing, on Ilulberton street, to sell his different 
compounds as to handle the mortar, or run the restaurant 
during the camp in the best of shape. Year after year 
David Wetherbee has lived on Preston street, and day after 
day has he pegged away upon his bench, and still swings 
out the sign at the corner of Main and Preston streets. 
He is one of the old stand-bys in the trade, and the town 
will miss him when he lays down the thread of life. 

Kirk Blanchard has a delightful home on Brockport 
street, and his grounds are elegant The fast horses daily 
swing around the Wright dwelling, or pause for the moment 
to take breath, in front of Joe Hess's, the prohibition 
orator, before they come in on the home-stretch. On Al- 
bion street may be seen the modest residence of Col. May, 
where Eli runs out his engine and separator, and near, 
where we once drove the cow a-field, Charles May reposes, 
after he has left the vinegar business of Miller & Pettengill 
behind for the night. Hard-by the magnificent Sturges 
elm is the pleasant abode of Clark Emery, who is as good- 
natured in the morning as in the evening, and who serves 
papers for the courts with a gracious air. Beyond is George 
Sturges, who belongs to Clarendon soil, and is of a good, 
old stock, as the records show, while D. F. St. John and 
Daniel Griggs have fine residences beyond. 

The changes have been so many in Avhat is known as the 
Lower Store that we can hardly enumerate them. Selah 
North, Warren Clark, George Warren, Mortimer D. Smith, 
Aaron Albert, Joseph Turner, x\masa Patterson, George 
Mathes, and, at present, FI. Cole. The first store-wagon on 



faewell's mills. 39 

the road was started by George Mathes, and the town is 
now overrun with these peddlers, who would do the country 
better service by staying behind the counter and allowing 
their customers to come to town to trade. 

The canning factory now in operation, by Kirk Blan- 
chard, on Brockport street, promises to be a great success, 
with a pay-roll of thirty, and we argue for it a prosperous 
business, increasing yearly. The two finest houses in town 
are on Brockport street, and were erected by Ogden S. Mil- 
ler and Walter T. Pettengill, and the former is now occu- 
pied by George Mathes. 

In the old books in merry England we find the name of 
^ann,"and, in later times, ^-Tavern;" and at this day, 
and, in fact, since 1836, Clarendon has had one stopping- 
place for travelers, called, as now, ^^ Hotel." Judge Far- 
well's log-house was a large structure, and so arranged that 
strangers could find a place to rest, which is really one of 
the chief wants of this life. Shenstone, the poet, must 
have felt this when he wrote : 

" Whoe'er lias traveled life's dull round, 
Where'er liis stages may have been, 
Must sigh to think he often found 
His warmest welcome at an inn." 

Hamilton's house accommodated some of his friends, but 
Judge Farwell was the foundation upon which Frisbie & 
Pierepoint opened the first regular tavern, which was a 
small, one-story frame building, and just back of Tamblyn's 
flour store. After, a proprietor by the name of Banning, 
who, as near as we ascertain, was here, followed by Farley, 
Bowdwitch and Hazard, and then Valentine and Orson 
Tously, up to about 1837, when Elizur Piatt opened up a 
new hotel in what is the Clarendon Hotel to-day. The 
sign-post for the old tavern was over Main street, to the 
east, and the watering- trough stood near-by. In due time 
the old tavern extended from the corner of Main street, and 



40 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

the narrow way around the stone shop, north about thirty- 
two feet, with a verandah above and below, having two 
stories, witii a bar-room on the north, and a sitting-room 
to the south. Afterward a large addition was made; the 
old ball-room was cut into sleeping apartments, and the 
tripping of the "light, fantastic toe " was in the new part. 
The barns of the old tavern ran to the north, as far as the 
present south line of George B. Lawrence, with a shed 
reaching toward the kitchen, which was on the west end 
of the tavern. Targee & Palmer occupied this house only 
a few months after these changes, when, one pleasant morn- 
ing in May, 1849, the flames very soon enveloped this old 
hostelry, and left its nails and other incombustible material 
to remain in the cellar, for inquisitive lads to look over in 
their search for pennies, or some fancied hidden treasure. 
When this burnt down the author was only five years of 
age, and he well remembers the awful impression this first 
fire had upon his mind, and the running to and fro of the 
nervous citizens, who could only carry pails of water to 
put out flames that had, Ave understand, a good insurance 
to remain after the smoke had passed away. And these 
old, scorched walls and charred timbers laid as they had 
stood and fallen, until they were removed, and the plow 
made furrows for long years over its deserted site, until the 
new flouring-mill arose to fill up the abandoned spot. 

The present building, known as the " Clarendon Hotel," 
was partially built by Ezekiel Hoag, in 1832, and for many 
years was occupied as a dwelling-house, harness-shop and 
grocery, when Elizur Piatt put his son, Lawrence, inside, 
and installed him as the proprietor. The large ball-room 
was added by Dr. Wm. H, Watson, now of Xew York City, 
in 1859, and the opening dance had tickets that asked of 
each couple three dollars, with a supper at midnight. From 
1837 the old tavern had, as landlords, Elizur Piatt, to 1840; 
Philip Angevine, to 1843; George W. Peck, to 1849; and 



farwell's mills. 41 

Targee & Palmer, from January up to May, when it was 
no more. 

In 1839 Marvin Powers opened up what he called the 
Cottage Inn, in the house which is now occupied by Tim- 
othy Gr. McAllister, on Albion street. He had a dance at 
this place on the fourth of July, and the tickets were 
three dollars each couple, which must have been a heavy 
charge in that day, when money was so very scarce, and so 
soon after the crash of 1837. Clark Glidden had in his 
pocket the said three dollars, but he concluded that he had 
better spend this amount for '' Josephus," where he could 
learn of the Jews, rather than dance it out on the ball-room 
floor, and consume at the supper-table with some one of 
Clarendon's lassies, which he accordingly did, to his own 
satisfaction and instruction. 

This must have been a strange-looking inn, if we are 
are allowed to be judges, and, to our best recollection, it 
presented anything but an agreeable appearance the first 
time our eyes looked U23on this old shell. A story is told 
of this man Powers, that he beat Mr. David Sturges out of 
a large sum of money, by the bankrupt law of 1837, and 
when Sturges was informed of his action, and, at the same 
time, of his cow being struck by lightning, he exclaimed, 
^' God Almighty and man are both against me!" 

In the Clarendon Hotel, George W. Farwell, to 1852 ; 
Orwell Bennett, to 1855 ; J. S. Nelson and J. P. Nelson,, 
1855 ; J. S. Nelson and I. S. Bennet, 1856 ; Merrick Stev- 
ens, 1857; Isaac S. Bennett, 1858; Fayette King, 1859 
James P. Nelson, 1860 and 1861; Isaac S. Bennett, 1862 
Horace Sawyer, 1863 and 1864; 0. and A. B, Jenks, 1865 
Edwin Foster, 1866 and 1867 ; Horace Sawyer, 1868 and 
1869; Alfred Cobb, 1870 and 1871 ; Henry Foster, 1872 : 
George Cook and Henry Foster, 1873; and Henry and 
Chauncey Foster, who were succeeded by Martin V. Foster, 
who is the landlord of 1888. The ball-room, with its saw- 



42 HISTOET OF CLARENDON. 

dust floor, was the place where elections and town meet- 
ings were held, until the Town Hall, on Woodruff avenue, 
became the stamping floor, in 1879. 

This hotel was a noted place for dancers to come from 
Churchville, Pine Hill, Batavia, Brockport, Holley, and 
the country, for thirty miles or more, on Independence 
Day, Christmas Eve, New Years' and Washington's Birth- 
day, when the barn would be jammed, with horses in the 
stables, and between poles on the opposite side, while the 
cutters and carriages stood in long rows on the outside. 
The dance would generally open about 8 p. m., and the 
music of the violin and base-viol hold reign until daylight 
opened the eastern windows of the sky. During the war, 
cards were played, night after night, and it took the bar- 
tender a large share of the time to keep the thirsty shufflers 
from being dry. Under the old regime, whisky cost only 
three cents a glass, and the platform in front, on a pleasant 
day, had its usual quota of sitters, who had just taken a 
drink, or were waiting, very patiently, for some one to step 
up and say, "Come in, boys, and have something!" of 
which history can record no refusal. The amount of the 
"ardent" which has been drunk in (Clarendon would, in 
all probability, float a man-of-war ; and yet, only one per- 
son was known to die with snakes, and this came from too 
much Rochester whisky, of mix vomica nature. 

Before the railroad at Holley, in 1851, Clarendon was a 
great stopping-point for teamsters on their way to the 
Erie Canal ; and even up to 1867, when Newton & G-arfield 
put up their block in Holley, the village hotel was sur- 
rounded by teams, and the bar at all respectable hours, 
and often late into the night, largely patronized. Formerly 
on election and town-meeting days, liquor flowed as water, 
and the tavern barn was a great resort for wrestlers, while 
just to the south of the verandah, could be seen the jump- 
ers, with large stones or weights in their hands, and doing 



farwell's mills. -io 

their level best to rival one another. Now and then a dog- 
fight made its howl, and at the end coats would fly, and 
bloody noses tell the force of Clarendon fighters. Just in 
front would be old George in his two-storied buggy, as full 
as a tick, and singing out, " Wait for the wagon I" or lying 
prostrate on the ground, with the claret streaming from 
his nostrils. Every day the bell would call for breakfast, 
dinner and supper, and the ice-house in the rear would 
keep the meat and provision in the best of order. 

But that day of cheap whisky, card-playing, fighting and 
bell-ringing, has gone forever, and the Clarendon hotel of 
to-day is quiet as if in Rochester or Buffalo. Billiard and 
pool-playing are now the chief amusements, and the amount 
of strong liquors taken is very small compared to the use 
of lager and ale, with the consumption of cigars and smoke. 
The old sitters have folded their forms in the robes of 
death, where they can rest from their labors, while their 
works do follow them. And if they were once more to 
return to their old haunts, they would in all probability 
shed one deep tear, utter one long sigh, and exclaim : 
*• This is no place for us ; we will again seek our quiet rest- 
ing places in the town burying-grounds! " 



44 HISTOKY OF CLAEENDON. 



CHAPTEE III. 

SCHOOLS. 

WE shall make our starting-point a descri^Dtion of the 
schools of Farwell's Mills, or Clarendon, and then 
give the other districts in the same order which we shall 
observe as to the roads. The first teacher that G-eorge W., 
the son of Judge Eldredge Farwell, had, was Mrs. David 
Glidden, who taught in the log school-house which stood 
where Aurin Glidden's house is situated, on Byron street. 
We cannot give the date of its hewing and scoring, but it 
only remained until 1819, when a frame building was 
erected just east of the stone school-house of this day. The 
log must have been quite small, and the lumber for the 
benches in this, as in the frame one, cut in Farwell's mill. 
We may imagine this shanty school of 1813. A circular 
bench around the room for the big boys and girls, leaving 
a back for the next row ; and then only slabs or boards for 
those below, with no desks in which to keep any book they 
may have possessed. The little ones had no primers; 
tlie walls chinked in ; no black-boards ; and if one had a 
slate on which to figure, this was done at the seat ; the 
windows just large enough to invite a few pencils of golden 
light to linger ; no desks for the little heads to rest on 
when sleepy ; only a crossing of the legs to hold up the 
body ; the walls without one picture to break the dreariness 
of the view; Webster's spellmg-book, with its story of the 
boy in the apple-tree ; the old English Reader, informing 
the older ones of Micipsa and the bloody Jngurtha, or fill- 
ing their minds with Selkirk's experience as a Eobinson 



SCHOOLS. 45 

Crusoe ; and Dwight's Geography, that made even Western 
New York a wilderness, save at Batavia, Newport, or Albion, 
Lewiston, Black Rock and Buffalo. 

Where then was Brockport, Holley, Hulberton, Knowles- 
ville, or even Clarendon ? How about Cleveland, Toledo, 
Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Omaha and the 
great West ? With the exception of a few of the chief 
stopping-points on the routes of emigration, the country 
to the west of Farwell's Mills was as unknown as certain 
portions of Australia in 1888. Here and there some daring 
settler had made his clearing, and the other openings were 
the work of Nature, where she had dug out her streams, 
ponds and lakes. How, then, could Dwight's Geography 
contain the outlines, or even drawings, of a land where the 
mink, beaver, musk-rat, deer, wolf and bear held undis- 
puted possession ? 

Out on the basswood floor is a block of wood where some 
urchin sits, who is so thick-headed that the teacher calls 
him a dunce, and there he is, hour after hour, until some 
one, out of pity or fun, kicks his seat from under him, and 
on the floor he sprawling lies, the whole school ready to 
burst the buttons if they only dared to, and were not afraid 
of the blue-beech gad on the hooks. Hear the tow-heads 
spell ! C-a-t, kat. C-o-w, keow. D-i-d — y-o-u — s-e-e — 
m-y — n-e-w — c-a-p ? " Girls may have a recess ! " Out they 
go — a motley group — all the way down from Eliza Jane 
and Betsey Ann, twenty years of age, to Polly Ann and 
Susan Jane, three or four years old; the poor mother hav- 
ing one or two smaller ones at home in the shanty, and 
sending these darlings, with eight or ten others, to the 
teacher to care for, 'vjist to get them out of the way." Do 
you see any bustles in the bustle of getting out of the hem- 
lock door ? Any French-twisted heads ? Any button- 
gaiters ? Are they afraid of soiling their fine dresses by 
touching some poor girl's gown ? Does every scholar have 



46 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

her equal associate with her, not deigning to notice those 
in the lower rounds of the ladder of wealth ? 0, no! The 
girls of that day were too democratic and republican in 
their natures ; they had the brains and good common- 
s-ense that made mothers, whose hands toiled without sew- 
ing machines, or knitting-machines, from the break of day 
until night, and worked like slaves to make this beautiful 
Western New York what it is to day, the finest country 
that the blessed Lord ever looked upon. They were the 
girls who could run a foot-race with the biggest boys, and 
beat many of them, too. Who could keep step with the 
best walkers to and from school, for one, two or three miles. 
Their cheeks needed no lily-white; the lily came from 
Dame Nature, and the French-red from the scarlet and 
crimson blood that painted their cheeks and lips, as no 
artist could ever hope to do. 

Did they have any catarrh then ? They wore calf-skin 
shoes, heavy soles, home-made. Did they have dyspepsia? 
They knew nothing of frosted cake and the rich delicacies 
of to-day, which very soon make the stomach a reservoir 
for pepsin, or Green's August Flower. Where were their 
seal-skin sacks? Their sable boas? Good home-woven 
flannel was fur enough for them ; and one of those Claren- 
don girls would in one cold day freeze one of 1888 to death, 
if she dared to dress as she did. They were not rocking- 
chair girls ; but every one of them knew how to set a table, 
and could get up as good a meal as their mothers. No won- 
der young men married these girls. They had the blood in 
them ; the genuine stuff, that has made the America of 
to-day. 

"Recess for the boys!" Hold on there, you great, big 
six-footers, don't run over the little boys! Bang! How^ 
the door slammed as the last one made one bound into that 
pile of snow. Talk about your modern games! See those 
two lads clench each other! They have had it in their eyes- 



SCHOOLS. 47 

in the school-room, and now they will have it out. The 
chip lies on the ground, and the blood flies. Do you want 
a square-hold, side-hold, or back-hold ? You can have it 
at a moment's notice, and you need not worry but you will 
find your match. Jumping, thumping, pitching, wrestling, 
running, snow-balling, or the taking of forts, as Napoleon 
did at Brienne ; all these sports made up the school-days 
of 1819, at FarwelFs Mills, when every one was on the 
same level, and we had not learned to imitate the snobbery 
of old Europe, which our grandfathers and grandmothers 
despised from the bottom of their souls. 

The old log school-house only lasted about seven years, 
and was in 1819 superseded by a frame building just east 
of the site of the present school-house, which was erected, 
as the tablet says, in 1846. The frame one of 1819 was 
then moved on to the farm which William H. Cooper now 
owns, on Hulberton road. Aside from the statement given 
us by David Matson, we have been unable to find any other 
person who could tell us aught about the frame school-house 
or its teachers, outside of the records which have been kept 
in the old Town-book. The elections were held in the 
frame school-house from 1821 up to 1837, when they Avere 
transferred to the house of Elizur Piatt, who that year 
opened his hotel in Clarendon. In the frame school-house 
at Clarendon the entrance was to the north-west, showing 
the love of cold weather; the teacher's desk opposite the 
door, so as to see the scholars when they came in. In 1822 
there were two large fire-places in this school-house, Avith 
plenty of wood to burn, and they were kept roaring during 
the winter-time. 

As time advanced the stove came in that would burn 
four-foot wood, and this must have been somewhere about 
1840. By this box-stove lay a large iron poker, which 
some village blacksmith had pounded out, big enough to 
stir up the fire, or knock any of the larger boys down, if 



48 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

necessary. In the old red store building, after 1836, select- 
schools were taught by one Parker and H. W. Merrill, after- 
wards a lawyer in Saratoga Springs, with whom the author 
studied law when he Avas in partnership with Esek Cowen, 
now of the Troy bar, and one of the best lawyers in the 
state. Merrill was a graduate of Union College, at Sche- 
nectady, a very good teaclier, with a will like a sea-captain. 
These select-schools were also carried on in the ball-room 
of the new tavern, by Merrill, and Isthomer Bard Saw tell, 
who left behind him a certificate showing Mrs. D. F. St. 
John what he thought of her qualifications in relation to 
teaching. 

A certain Judson also swung the rod about this time, 
and taught the young ideas how the sprouts grew out of 
blue-beech trees. Elviraette Lewis had incensed Merrill 
by some of her girlish pranks, and he sent out George Hoag 
to get six whips, in order that he might appease his wrath, 
which was nearly at 212 deg. Fahrenheit. Out George 
marched on his errand of mercy, and on the school-ground 
he found a half-dozen of teazle plants, trimmed them, came 
in, and laid them before the black-eyed teacher. He 
snatched one of these, swung it above his head, and before 
it reached the naughty girl it broke and flew across the 
room. Merrill exclaimed : " George, go out and get me 
six blue-beech whij^s ! " George opened the door once 
more, went down town, and forgot to bring back the rods, 
and did not put in an appearance until the next day, when 
Merrill had, through one good night's rest, cooled down, 
and George and Elviraette looked love out of eyes that 
said, "All right!" 

Leonard Sawyer also taught in the frame school-house, 
and we regret very much that the old supervisors' reports, 
since 1856, are minus, or we could give a list of the teach- 
ers from 1821 to 1888. The first teacher that Elisha Far- 
well had in the old frame school-house, was Horace Steele ;. 



SCHOOLS. 



49 



and if he had any of the bubbling nature of Steele of the 
old Si^ctator, he must have made some amends for the 
crossness and long-jawedness of other teachers of that iron 
day. The teacher's desk, according to Elisha, had two 
steps leading up to it, and there the pedagogue sat, some- 
thing after the manner of that old picture, looking out 
from under his eyes like some spider, watching for a good 
opportunity to show how mighty he could be with the 
brief authority in which he was daily clothed. 

In the old yellow house built by Hamilton, Clarissa Lee 
had a select school at an early day. In the stone school- 
house of 1846, now standing, the first term in the large 
room was taught by John B. King, and in the small room 
Malvina A. Vandyke. Hannah Dutcher, Lucy Knowles, 
Maria Maine, Clara Newman, Sarah Jane Jenkins, Miss 
Bingham and Clara Spencer, were some of the teachers 
here before 1856. John B. King was one of the brain 
teachers of CUirendon, and made one of the best citizens 
that the town has known. He had a valuable library of 
his own purchase, and the marginal notes demonstrate that 
he did his own thinking, side by side with the author of 
each volume. He was clerk in the senate chamber at 
Albany, in the charge of the Erie Canal under Joel Hiuds, 
at Hindsburgh, and for some time in the Sturges store, all 
of Avhich places he filled with honor, not only to himself^ 
but to the people at large. When he died Clarendon 
dropped her heart-tears upon his coffin, and his name is 
held sacred even at the present day. 

Malvina A. Vandyke, his associate, was one of the best 
lady instructors that could be found for the young. She 
always had that pleasant, open, and frank way of acting, 
that in a moment engaged the attention, and when she died 
in the spring of 1888, many were the flowers of love that 
blossomed over her memory. She was the last one of the 
3 



50 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

golden links that bound the present with the past, in the 
home-life of Clarendon village. 

The author remembers, when but a youngster, of one 
teacher hanging around his neck a silver sixpence, as a 
mark of merit; and how gladly he skipped down over the 
hill to the old house, when he showed his mother with 
delight his first medal ; and no after conferment ever made 
him feel so rich as this simple token of esteem. Strange 
how little it takes to make a child's heart, like some high 
rock spring, bubble over from the depths within ! 

The old mill-dam was a great place for the boys to go in 
swimming, and very often we forgot all about the swift- 
footed hours, and, having no belfry bell to warn us, we 
would appear before the teacher after school had been 
called. Then, what a scene ! " Stand out on the floor, you 
boys, and prepare to take a whipping, for not being in on 
time ! " There we stood, a dozen or more, while the teacher 
at once proceeded to give us each a good switching around 
the bare legs, or over the cotton shirts, that were very thin, 
and left every blow to make us dance almost a sailor's horn, 
pipe. What boo-hooing ! What bawling ! What snivel- 
ing! What "Ohs!" What *' teacher, I never will be 
late again ! " While some would bite their lips, hold their 
breath, or, like the Spartan lad, never squeal, and, as they 
went to their seats, say, inwardly, " Licking don't last long, 
and kill me you daren't!" There was one lad who seemed 
to take delight in tattling, and, once upon a time, he 
bawled, '^ Teacher, Dave Copeland is whispering ! " When 
that teacher had finished her task of correction, that youth 
soon found his head about forty degrees to the horizon, 
backAvard, and, his mouth wide open, sent up the most 
terrific shrieks. He failed to tattle any more, and, perhaps, 
remembered what the first penny of our United States 
said, '* Mind your business !" 

In those days tlie scholars were taught to sing the multi- 



SCHOOLS. 51 

plication table, up to the tens, and every one had the op- 
portunity of coming in on the chorus of five times five are 
twenty-five, all through the fives. Teachers were not 
ashamed to read the Bible, or offer up a prayer, and woe 
unto the one that broke the stillness of the occasion. 
Prizes were given, each term, in spelling, and the last day 
of school never came without each one having a card to re- 
member the tutor. Now, all is changed, and the teacher 
generally dismisses the school, and puts every cent of his 
wages in his pocket, and goes away, like the door upon its 
hinges. This feature of covetousness is worth thinking 
upon. 

There was one beautiful girl, the laughing, charming 
Minerva Curtis, who, with her brother Levi, would walk 
to school side by side with Charley Martin and Josie, up 
the old Byron road. Jumping the rope at noon-times 
was a favorite pastime with many of the scholars, one at 
either end, while the contestants would take their places on 
the floor, and skip to the whirl. One day Charley and 
Minerva stepped forth and jumped the rope, side by side^ 
120 times. That night Minerva complained of a head- 
ache, went home, and never again brought the sunlight of 
her sweet face into the school-room. Four days of brain 
fever, lying unconscious, like some lily of mortality, breath- 
ing out her loving life, she passed away. And when we 
heard the sad news it seemed as if some funeral bell had 
tolled through all our hearts. How sadly we marched,, 
side by side, around that cofiin, and took our farewell look 
at that face, so beautiful in death. But she had gone, like 
"some sunbeam, to revisit the place of its nativity," and. 
the following day, and the remainder of that term, was as if 
some shadow had entered the door, and hovered over all 
the seats. 

Flowers are ever beautiful, and give forth silent lessons 
that touch the finest chords of our being. As one scholar 



52 HISTOEY OF CLARENDON. 

walked up, one sweet, May morning, and presented the 
teacher, Frank Carpenter, with some wood-violets, that the 
angels had left in the woods beyond, she kissed the happy 
face, and said, " There is always something good in one that 
loves flowers!" Do we think of this as we pass along the 
ways of life? Where, now, is that teacher who, when he 
called a certain girl out on the floor, to punish her, looked 
out of his savage eyes, and growled, "Alvina, you have 
eyes like a woodchuck's ! " And where that other master 
of the rod who, when he took up the poker to strike Rob- 
ert, Joseph, at the top of his voice, frightened, by exclaim- 
ing, '^If you don't let him alone Til knock you into a gin- 
shop!" Ask the old pensioners, and they could give his 
name, if they had been there to see. 

Turn back the day pages, and enter with me the large 
room. Do you see that light-haired, sharp-eyed pedagogue, 
as he takes his place at the desk, to call the roll ? He is as 
quick in his spring as a cat, and as nervous as if he was a 
bundle of magnetic wires. See how he handles that Fifth 
Reader, and gives vent to his reading of "0 Lorenzo!" 
Now he is calling out those other words, " thou Eternal 
One ! " Or, perhaps, he pauses, and imagines himself a 
second Daniel, as he exclaims, '^Liberty and Union!" 
Hark ! he is now saying, '' Come to the bridal chamber. 
Death !" The scene changes; out over the desks I see the 
legs of one boy playing wonderful circus movements in the 
air, and then the room is so still that one can hear the poor 
culprit breathe. But Pratt is gone, and Hornellsville can 
see him upon her streets, and it has been many years since 
Clarendon knew his face. He left a record behind him 
that Union College might well be proud of, could his pro- 
fessors know his school-work. 

In those days it was customary to have, every two weeks, 
compositions and speaking, from all the scholars, from nine 
years of age up to the oldest. What a day that Friday 



SCHOOLS. 



53 



would be ! What orators took the floor, and died for their 
country ! What comedians brought down the house with 
laughter! And what rosy-lipped girls gave forth the 
chronicles of the passing term ! On the exhibition-nights 
th^ stage had Widow Bedott to please the ear and eye. 
There strode Brutus into the senate-house, ready to stab' 
Ca3sar! While Mark Antony stood near, to show where the 
wounds were, or hold to view the bloody winding-sheet. 
Where, now, the crowds that came to these exhibitions ! 
Where are the actors upon this stage of school history ? 

As the steps of those we once knew and loved have 
walked across the dial of memory, and then closed the door 
and departed, so have these gone their way; some to that 
other school, beyond the boundaries of this life, and others, 
out into the rushing, pushing, Missouri stream of business, 
some to be wrecked, and others to float down the current, 
like a grand Cunarder in the storm. The old school has 
put on a new appearance inside, with patent desks, and 
anthracite coal ; and the bell-rope hangs down, ready for 
the teacher to pull, when the term opens. But the old 
boys and girls hear it no longer; the old stones look not 
upon their faces, and we never pass it by without having 
that melancholy feeling come over us, of which the poet 
Moore sings, ^' Oft in the stilly night." 

Leaving the village behind, let us take the Holley road, 
and spend a moment or two in the school-room with Luther 
Peck, the noted lawyer of Nunda, when he taught hard- 
by where Martin Hennessy has his pleasant home. We 
have never known him, but he must have been strong and 
powerful, as all the Pecks have ever been. It was away 
back in the twenties that he walked the floor of this log 
school-house; and the woods stood, grand and shadowy, 
all about him, where now the Chace mansion has its beau- 
tiful view. Did he work hard during that winter term ? 
Yes ! He threw his thoughts into the brains of the scholars. 



54 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

And what did he receive in payment for all this labor? 
Only a few bushels of wheat, which were sold in Rochester, 
out of which he had the compensation of one shilling per 
bushel. Where is the teacher that would work for such 
wages now, even if multiplied tenfold ? 

At the junction of the Hood and Sawyer roads stands at 
this day a very dilapidated stone school-house, which was 
condemned by Commissioner Edwin Posson about 1885 ; 
and the window-sashes are broken, the lights of glass with 
holes through them, where perhaps some urchin has paid 
his last respects to its memory. In 1831, there was a frame 
school-house at this point, and Mrs. Josiah Lawton, the 
daughter of Charles Burns, who settled on the William 
Gibson place, just to the east of the Holley road, can well 
remember when William Hopkins carried her to school in 
a crockery crate on a bob-sled the year above mentioned. 
This frame school-house had the seats in tiers, and in the 
winter time the fire-place would warm as high as 65 schol- 
ars. In this school taught John G. Smith, Emily Joslyn, 
Lucinda Burnham, Hannah Smith, Joseph Glidden (the 
barbed wire patentee), George Harper, Lyman Matson, Dr. 
Hiram Lewis, Homer Cook, James Wilson, Hannah Dutcher, 
Lucinda Johnson, Harry Darrow and many others up to 
1849, when the building was burnt, and the stone one 
erected in 1852. Alexander Milliken gave the land for one 
dollar for the stone school-house, the land to revert to his 
heirs when abandoned by the district, Avhich happened in 
1885, as we have stated. 

The best teacher, Robert Milliken informs us, in the 
frame school-house, was Lyman Matson ; and his school at 
spelling schools would spell any other school down in the 
towns. Among the girls, Betsey Hood was the best speller; 
and of the boys, Henry French, who challenged any scholar 
to give him a single word in Webster's Dictionary that he 
could not master. After the spelling-book was finished, 



SCHOOLS. 55 

words would be taken from the atlas to puzzle the spellers. 
One of the punishments in the Hood school was in requir- 
ing- the scholar to bend over and place his finger on a par- 
ticular nail, which was practiced upon Fred Hood, now of 
loAva, until his eyeballs were ready to leave the sockets, 
which reformation was successfully done by John G. Smith. 
Luther Peck also taught here when he was a young man. 
The scholars Avould walk from Curtiss, and Lucas Mills, 
to this school, seldom having a ride, only in the worst 
of weather. One of the early teachers had one of the 
boys bring in a fence-stake for kindling on a very cold 
day, and this so enraged the Hood brothers that they called 
a school meeting and turned the tearful teacher out to seek 
her living elsewhere. This only shows how much more 
these landholders valued a piece of ash or cedar than they 
did the comfort of the scholars or the feelings of the lady 
tutor. 

On the Brockport road, at Hill's or Bennett's Corners, 
stood an old frame school-house, which Nathan 0. Warren 
moved back into his orchard to the east. The present 
school building was erected by Gilbert K. Bennett in 1848, 
at a cost of $500.00. One teacher by the name of Rose 
held forth here, and before he went to his dinner on a cer- 
tain day, ordered the boys to have the room warm on his 
return. When he had departed the lads piled about a cord 
of wood, more or less, into the old fire-place, and then 
quietly awaited his coming. When he took one look at 
the situation he threw wide open the door and windows, 
and it required the whole afternoon to reduce that fire or 
lower the temperature of the room so as to be in any wise 
comfortable. David Matson, Nathan 0. Warren, John 
Church, James W. Randall, Amasa Patterson, Ira T. Mer- 
rill, Lucius B. Coy, Francis and Jane Howard, and Eben 
G. Langdon, of Barre, were a few of the teachers here 
before 1856. The school-house at present is one of the 



56 HISTOEY OF CLARENDON. 

best in town, and the scholars take much pride in keeping 
the buildings neat, and for a district school there is no 
other its superior. It would be well if the patrons of this 
school would set out some shade-trees around, giving each 
scholar or two an opportunity to name their own trees, and 
thereby in after years have the leaves, boughs and trunks 
to bless their memory. A bell should be placed above the 
roof, and this would add not only to the appearance but 
also to the convenience of the teacher and scholars. 

In 1836, Elviraette Lewis, wife of D. F. St. John, taught 
a select school in the house of Alvah Grennell, on what is 
now known as the E. L. Williams property, to the east of 
the " Corners." She had such good success that she nearly 
closed the " Corners " school, which at this time had only 
three scholars. The rule was then that each family should 
be taxed according to the children sent, and it can be 
readily seen that the rate bill of t]\is family that had only 
three, and yet paid the teacher, must have been large. The 
good people were astonished one night to see at a neighbor- 
hood party, Elviraette Lewis and this teacher swing into 
line in the dance, as composedly as two lawyers would take 
a glass together after they had fought each other for all 
they were worth in some hotly-contested suit. 

On the Byron road, where now the Fords reside, was a 
small frame school-house, which was drawn by an ox team 
of Warren Glidden's to where it stood, until the present 
building was erected in 1885. This soon was known as the 
^' Robinson," in honor of Chauncey Robinson, who at one 
time lived opposite, and afterward just to the south. Aurin 
Glidden remembers, when a younker, of being drawn on a 
sled to this school from the home of his father, Simeon 
Glidden, on the Matson road. The mother of the author, 
Laura A. Sturges, taught in the "Robinson" in 1835, and 
John J. Stevens remembers her as his first teacher. At 
this time Chauncey Robinson had one of the best gardens 



SCHOOLS. 57 

in town, and was famous for his dinners, which the school- 
mams knew how to appreciate. Tracy Robinson, who for 
many years was United States Consul at Aspinwall, on the 
Isthmus of Panama, and Charles, his brother, who died at 
San Francisco, were scholars at this time. A roll of the 
school of that day would be very acceptable ; but the rag- 
bag or fire-place alone could tell its departure ; and tliig 
negligence may be charged over to our wise legislators, who 
had too much on their brains to attend to scliool records. 
Luther Peck, Lucius B. Coy, Frank Eandall, Davis Glid- 
den, Clark Glidden, Ingersoll, Jackson, Dr. Bateman, Lucy 
Coleman and Marion Roberts were some of the former 
teachers at the '^Robinson." The present school-house 
was erected in 1885 by N. Eugene Warren, and not only 
reflects credit upon the architect but is a source of pride to 
the district. Arbor Day would plant trees here. 

The first Cook school-house was raised of logs in 1817, 
just below the mansion of W. H. H. Golf, the present 
Supervisor of Clarendon. A sulphur spring near by drove 
away the itch or scabies, which was very prevalent in other 
schools. Luther Peck, Judge Taggart of Byron, Miss 
Sears, Miss Wilson, Lydia and Jane Langdon, Reynolds, 
Lucius B. Coy, Dr. Hiram W. Lewis, and Jane Glidden 
called the roll here, and these are only a few names that 
we have been able to gather. In 1828, the site was changed 
to where Emma and Irene Glidden now own the Simeon 
Howard property, and the scholars had a boarding of plank 
to shelter them from the storms. During the Morgan 
excitement the good people met here, and were nearly 
ready to organize a fishing expedition to drag for his body 
somewhere in Lake Erie or Ontario, and their long resolu- 
tions and loud sj^eeches ended as usual in froth upon the 
stream of life. In 181'^, the site was again changed, and 
Honest Hill saw a stone building arise costing §319.00. 
This the boys after forty years and more smoked out, until 



58 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the people, disgusted with its appearance, engaged George 
Thomas to bnild a more showy and convenient structure, 
at a cost of $1,000.00. 

The Cook school derived its name from Lemuel Cook, 
who lived over the way, and it retains the name to the 
present day. There is no one in the neighborhood now 
who can give any more names of teachers than those above, 
and we must pass the others by up to 1856, out of igno- 
rance. This school nas been quite famous in the past, and 
has had its share of fun and frolic. It was formerly a 
center for the good women to arrange picnics, and in the 
orchard over the fence, now owned by Xathan E. Merrill, 
the tables would be spread and loaded down with the best 
cake and other eatables, such as no other district in town 
could rival. Speeches would be made by rising orators 
upon the great topics of the hour, and each speaker had 
his friends standing ready to give him the cheer. But that 
day of enthusiasm and cake eating has departed, and the 
laughing, sparkling eyes of happy girls are no longer to be 
seen among the apple-trees, ready to give a joke or take one 
in return. How many flowers would be growing here, if 
their steps could only have left behind such sweets to make 
beautiful their golden existence ! 

The first school at the " Corners," formerly known as the 
Lawton, or, at one time, Mudville, from the presence of so 
much mud at this point, was of log, and must have been 
raised about 1820. This was at first a rude dwelling, which 
Ephraim Brackett had raised to live in, and in 1820, 
Amanda Annis, then twelve years of age, was one of Street's 
scholars in this so-called school-house, and Robert Owen, 
Manning Packard says, was the first teacher. 

The building was very small, with one window to each 
point of the compass; a fire-place to the right of the door, 
which opened to the east, as all of the doors on this road 
beside. The seats had pegs about the size of a chair leg. 



SCHOOLS. 59 

with only one row on the back, having a desk-board in 
front, on which to place whatever books poverty allowed. 
Generally, at night, the school-books would be taken home, 
or left in charge of the teacher, in his or her desk, to be 
called for when wanted. In recitations, the scholars would 
stand up by their benches, and never out on the floor, as 
at the present time. There was not room for such classes, 
as the seats took up nearly the whole space, save a small 
vacancy for the teacher's desk, and a single file walk before 
the little shavers in front, who kept their toes at a respect- 
ful distance when some cornplanter went by. The girls 
had the north side of the school-house, and the boys the 
south ; why we cannot tell, unless it arose from the fact 
that the lads could stand the sun better and deserved a 
hotter place than the lassies. 

There were no outhouses connected with this school- 
house, and Harmon Salsbury, coming in after the girls' 
recess, was asked by Guy Salisbury, the teacher, where he 
had been, he replied, '' Down in the woods to have a tooth 
pulled ; " which witty remark made the old school-house 
shake its sides with laughter. The girls braided their own 
straw hats out of oat, wheat and rye straw, and even made 
them for the men who were digging the Erie Canal at 
Holley, walking all the way, and getting about one shilling 
for each hat. Amanda Annis remembers carrying Miranda 
Lowell, on horseback, over the Brockport road, to Sweden ; 
when she rode on the saddle, and Amanda just behind, one 
arm about her waist ; and then coming home in the saddle 
'^ just kiting." The teachers had at first so much for each 
scholar, and the boarding around would be accordingly; 
with each family from nine days as high as fourteen, each 
meal. The teachers always pounded on the windows to 
call the scholars ; bells had not been thought of then ; and 
the fine metal bells of the school-room are comparatively 
very recent. 



60 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Street was one of the best teachers ; and Betsey Clough 
was universally loved. Benjamin G. Pettengill, who be- 
came noted as the " Squire/' taught here when a young- 
man. 

When pride came, the sjood people of this district sent 
their teams down the HoUey road to a brick kiln, on what 
is known as the Alexander 0. Salisbury's property, and 
purchased material to put up the only brick school-house 
that Clarendon has ever looked upon. In 1826, Lucinda 
Banning taught here in the summer, and Harley Hood in 
the winter term. Here the girls that spun, wove, knit, 
cooked, and cut up generally, could read and cipher, while 
the lads in school hours passed away the time, and spent 
their evenings at spelling or debating schools, or in the 
farm-house dance of the neighborhood. 

David N. Pettengill could call to mind the day when 

Hibbard taught in the brick, that he and another of the 

scholars went down to Alexander Annis' to dinner, and the 

jolly time they had with the pretty daughters. The girls 

were in the habit of jumping over the fence in the winter 

time, and taking a slide on the ice, which extended all the 

way to the " Corners." John Brackett told the youngsters 

to take fence-stakes and make holes in the ice while the 

teacher was at Annis' at dinner. On came the teacher and 

his chums and in they went up to their waists. The 

teacher, not having a change of clothes, had the pleasure 

of drying them before the fire-place during the afternoon. 

while the whole school enjoyed the situation hugely. 

Lvman Green, one of the scholars, fell through the ice in 

an air-hole, and was dragged out nearly dead. Afterward, 

in company with his father, he crossed the plains, and, in 

his anger, he killed a squaw. The Indians captured him, 

and, in the presence of his parent, flayed him alive. He 

was not born to be drowned, but skinned. 

After the brick school-house had been torn down, a frame 



SCHOOLS. 61 

one was lifted to the wind and weather. In this school 
Orlina Sturges, daughter of David Sturges, taught the first 
term after its erection ; and she was the earliest maiden to 
introduce the India-rubber overshoes. She became the 
wife of the future G-overnor of Wisconsin, James T. Lewis. 
This frame house was painted red, which seemed to be a 
very stylish color ; why we do not know, unless it was to 
indicate the nature of the people who, once in a while, 
painted the neighborhood the same shade. David N". Pet- 
tengill taught in this school two winters, and was called by 
all that attended as the very best of teachers. He had, on 
an average, fifty scholars each term. Lyman Matson, John 
Bates, Amos Draper, William Buckland, Asa Bunnell, Irene 
Lee, Maria Langdon and Caroline Langdon may be men- 
tioned as some of the honored teachers, who have left 
behind them a page in school-day memories. If we could 
only have a few of these tutors by our side while writing, 
we would make this chapter to talk as if the actors were 
upon the rostrum before the reader ; but, alas ! they have 
gone down the silent valley, and we can only chronicle 
their names. 

The " Corners," or Manning, as it is now called, has a 
white school-house, in good repair, with patent seats, and 
a bell that calls the lad, '* creeping like a snail, unwillingly, 
to school." 

Turn, now, to the Salisbury road, and as you stop at the 
southwest corner, where the Webster road crosses to the 
west, imagine a very rude log school-house, in which the 
*' shining morning faces" came and went like sunbeams 
stealing through syringa bushes. Oh, the hard basswood 
benches ! Oh, the many weary hours, when the love that 
went away to bubbling streams rippling through the dark 
forests, or, in winter, to icy ponds, glistening like a mirror 
in the golden sunshine! Were these benches ever carved 
by the jackknives of these younkers, or were they unable 



62 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

to own any of the Sheffield importations ? But this modest 
home of the heart and brain, fell away, and on the north- 
west corner arose a frame one, more pretentious, and yet 
very humble to the passer-by, who looked upon its flaming 
exterior and paused to hear the voices of the teacher and 
children within. This was known as the Hubbard District 
throughout the town, and at first Irene Lee, Mrs. Thomas 
■Glidden, Sophia Conkling, Mrs. Josiah Graves and Cor- 
delia Wheeler took the scholars by the string of memory, 
and gradually unwound for them the spool of novelty and 
instruction. In the frame, Mrs. D. F. St. John, Samuel 
Salisbury, William Hatch, Benjamin Johnson and William 
Stillwell called the roll. Stillwell was a savage teacher, for 
one who professed the doctrine of love, and kept on hand 
a long ruler, which was notched, to pound his pupils. He 
would make some of the scholars stand on the floor for 
hours to fill up the vacuum of his feelings ; and Fred 
Salisbury says that if he could only meet him now, he 
would "feed fat the ancient grudge he bare him." When 
the district was changed, the boys and girls said good-bye 
to old Hubbard and tripped lightly over to enjoy the 
serenity of Mudville. 

On the Millard road, at its Union with the Milliken 
road, stands what is now known as the Brown school- 
house, named in honor of Andrew Brown at this place. 
The first log school-house stood just below Ancel Knowles, 
who took up the land and lived where Wilham S. Housel 
€an behold the pleasant country any hour of the day. This 
building stood on the west side of the Millard Road in the 
woods, to the north of Brown's Corners. An old spring 
once marked the site, about one-half an acre cleared for a 
play-ground, and in the center of this plaza stood a large 
hemlock, grand and stately, which many years ago became 
^*dead at the top." This school-house also had slab benches, 
an open fire-place, and each scholar was obliged to contrib- 



SCHOOLS. 63 

ute a certain quantity of fuel during each term, which 
must have been an easy task, with the exception of the 
hauling and splitting. George and Guy Salisbury, Jerry 
Palmer and Horace Street were early teachers. The log- 
house was followed by a frame one in 1828, on the " Cor- 
ners," built by Philip Angevine. About 1850, this build- 
ing was moved over to where Myron Snyder now resides, 
and is used as a barn for horses to eat hay, instead of 
children eating books. The school-house, as it now appears, 
was the work of DeWitt Cook in 1851, who has gone over 
the river to meet some of the old patrons and scholars. 
Mary Jane Pettengill, wife of Abram Salisbury, taught the 
first school in the present house in the summer of 1851. 
Maria Maine was here as an instructor in 1850. When 
Jerry Palmer was teacher, Zardeus Smith, one of his schol- 
ars, had a habit of " snickering " so that he could be heard 
over the school-room when anything tickled his diaphragm. 
Jerry took this disturber of the school's tranquility and 
tied him with a cord to the door handle on the outside. 
Orson Tousley, who was quietly riding by on his steed, 
observed poor Zard's plight and, having pity on his un- 
happy state, inquired the cause. After Zard had told him 
the reason of such punishment, he very coolly dismounted, 
untied the prisoner, and told him to take the strings to the 
teacher, get his hat and go with him, which Zard did in 
about one York minute, without making any apology, as 
he knev/ that Tousley was boss in that district. Amasa 
Patterson also taught at the Brown, and we omitted to 
mention that he held forth in the brick at Mudville. His 
school at the Brown was large, including seventy- five 
scholars, among whom we might name Mrs. Hiram Ward, 
Mrs. Mason Lewis, Mrs. Budd Emery, Mrs. Levi Mowers 
iind Myron Snyder, all at present residents of Clarendon. 
On the Wyman road, at the corner of the New Guinea 
road, was, very early, a shanty log school-house, in all 



64 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

probability the roughest-looking of any in the whole town. 
A stick chimney, plastered with manure and lime, allowed 
the smoke from the fire-place to escape, and the interior, 
as well as the exterior, breathed only of Tonawauda. 
George, Jones, and Horace Peck, all taught in this mosquito 
den, where it would have been a good place at night to 
bleed patients in the summer, instead of patronizing the 
doctor, with his bloody lancet. When Horace Peck was 
the teacher, he received thirteen dollars a month and had 
about thirty scholars. Samuel Miller sent his children 
barefoot through the snow to school, and we would be 
pleased to see some youth of the present day playing hop, 
skip and jump over the ice and snowbanks as these 
children did ; or sliding on the creek as Martin V. Foster, 
barefooted, when he attended the Eobinson. This log 
school-house of New G-uinea was burnt down when Robert 
Miller was teacher, and the scholars rolled over the road to 
the stone one at Honest Hill. 

The original school-house in the Root district, on the 
Root road, was of log, with stick chimney and the usual 
fire-place. This school had no blackboard, and the writing- 
books were made by the teachers, as we were informed by 
Enoch Andrus. Enoch bore in his mind, and on his back, 
the memory of a terrible flogging, which Luther Peck once 
gave him for chewing tamarack gum, which he had obtained 
in Tonawanda Swamp. One of the other lads interfered 
when this castigation was taking place, and this brought 
in a call from the school inspectors. This gum must have 
been very heavy on the teacher's mind to produce all this 
fuss; or he must have turned out of bed that morning 
with blood in his eye. Truman Smith was Enoch's first 
teacher, and Uncle Joe Sturges called him " God Almighty's 
Boshag." There were about eighty scholars here in 1824, 
and in 1887 only eighteen. It was customary to have 
spelling schools, when no whispering was allowed, and the 



SCHOOLS. 65 

house was lighted by candles, moulded at home, stuck in 
holes in the wall. This log raising burnt down, and a 
frame one took its place. The Root school-house of this 
day was shingled in 1849, and is destitute of shade, the 
same rule applying to this as to the others in the town. 
Almon Snyder, Mary Hathaway, Silas Snyder, Leonard 
Snyder, John Maine, Freeman Blair, Frink, John Harris, 
Joshua Coleman and William Dodge handled the rod. here. 

The Cowles school-house, on the Cowles road, across the 
way from Charles T. Cowles' last home, was at first of logs 
and stood about forty rods north of the present home of 
Warren Glidden. The neighborhood turned out and built 
this structure, which was burnt, and another took its place. 
The first teacher in the Cowles was one Gibbs, who was a 
noted handler of the rod, and the boys were employed at 
sundry times to bring in these ticklers of the human flesh. 
The lads would stick an axe in a log, and haul it to the 
fire-place to keep the fire burning, when they were puz- 
zling their brains over the Federal Calculator, or trying to 
locate Rochester or Buffalo. 

This school visited the old log school-house when it 
stood opposite David Church's, and five schools joined in a 
spelling match, in which Warren Glidden spelt down the 
last one, Jonathan Church. At the close the scholars all 
^'rejourned," as Mrs. Kidney used to say, over to a log 
house near the Cowles school, and there they passed the 
hours away until the break of day, and went home with the 
girls in the morning. 

The Cowles school-house is now a modest building of 
white, and the scholars number about eighteen in the win- 
ter term. The yard could be made beautiful if the teach- 
ers or patrons would only hie away to the woods and bring 
some maples to grow when their bodies lie moldering in 
the grave. 

What is now called the Glidden school-house formerly 



66 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

stood on the corner, at the junction of the Glidden road 
with the Oowles road. This house was moved to the pres- 
ent site on the Ghdden road and painted red, about 1839, 
by Ebenezer Reed. Ahnon Snyder and Silas Snyder taught 
under this roof many years ago, also Daniel Vining, Seba 
Bodwell and Burroughs Holmes. Asa Glidden furnishes 
the names of Charles Darrow, N. E. Darrow, Harry Harrow, 
Farnsworth, Maria Maine, Mary Lane, Mary Graham, Har- 
riet Keeler, Ann Oowles, Rhoda Barker, Alcy Ann Glidden, 
Sarah Snyder, Marion DeLand and Melissa Hitchcock, who 
walked the boards before the scholars and made them toe 
the mark when necessary. At present the Glidden school- 
house is unworthy of notice, so far as the building is con- 
cerned, and should have been condemned years ago, as it is 
a standing disgrace to Clarendon, and hardly fit for a cow- 
stable ; much less to freeze children in during ou,r severe 
winters. 

We are happy to state, that charts have been introduced 
into the schools, and if the patrons would only take pains 
to visit the schools, as our mothers did when we were 
young, there would at once be a great and decided change 
for the better in the present system. If the parents care 
nothing for the teachers or scholars, we cannot see why 
they should care for the parents, so far as the studies are 
concerned. There has been a great step taken backwards 
in the teaching of politeness on the part of teachers, and 
many of our schools insult strangers when they call in to 
note the progress of the scholars, or offer them words of 
encouragement. 

In 18^2, Clarendon had 425 scholars; in 1823, 523; in 
1824,605; in 1825, 621; in 1826,702; in 1827, 725; in 
1831, 776; in 1832, 850; in 1833, 905, and in 1888, 256. 
In 1822, the books used were Webster's Spelling Book, 
D wight's Geography, English Reader and Federal Calcula- 
tor. In 1824, English Reader, Daboll's Arithmetic, Mar- 



SCHOOLS. 67 

shalFs and Webster's Spelling Books, and Morse's Geog- 
raphy. In 1827, Webster's and Sears' Spelling Books, 
Murray's Grammar, Murray's Reader, and Greenleaf's 
Grammar. In 1833, Webster's Elementary Spelling Book, 
DaboU's Arithmetic, Murray's and Greenleaf's Grammars, 
Historical and English Readers, and Woodbridge's Geog- 
raphy. This closes the report in the town-book — and 
since that day we have Sanders' and Swinton's Readers, 
Ostrander's, Adams', Thomson's, and Robinson's Arithme- 
tics, Sanders' and Swinton's Spellers ; Clark's, Kirkham's, 
Kerl's and Brown's Grammars; Morse's, Mitchell's and 
McNally's Geographies ; Robinson's Algebra, Davies' Bour- 
don, Geometry, Trigonometry, Natural Philosophy, Wil- 
son's and Ridpath's Histories, Anatomy, Physiology and 
Hygiene, with Penmanship and Bookkeeping; until the 
schools in Clarendon, and notably at the village, would 
compare with any academy, outside of the classics. 

The wages of the teachers were very small at first, and 
Malvina A. Vandyke was only allowed ten shillings a week, 
in 1846, in the small room, and when she complained of its 
littleness was informed by a wealthy trustee, that it was as 
much as a girl was paid in the household, and of course 
this settled the argument. Elviraette Lewis received, in 
1836 to 1838, from eight to fourteen shillings a week for her 
services ; and the pay of the male teachers was double, which 
only shows how men can deal justly among their own, and 
have no pity on women, who we have no doubt did as much 
good work, and really more than their opposites, and yet 
were cut down one-half. This rule should at once be over- 
thrown, and the women, if capable, placed on the same 
level; and if superior, above the men, as to salary. 

The Normal school at Brockport, with the Union schools, 
seminaries and colleges, have opened wide their doors to 
receive the larger class of scholars, which has left only the 
younger ones now to attend the district schools. This has 



68 



HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



of necessity lowered the standard of scholarship ; while 
the weekly dances in the winter at the Town hall, and the 
craze over base ball has nearly overthrown that excellent 
system of education of which Clarendon once could justly 
boast. Her fine libraries, where are they now ? where the 
librarians? where the readers? where the spelling and 
debating schools ? where the comiDOsitions and speaking ? 
where the generous rivalry which lifted one district above 
the other? Ask the violin and base ball, and they will tell 
you ! These are mournful facts, but no sneer can set them 
aside ; no statement deny. The hope of Clarendon, as of 
every other town, rests in her schools ; and he only is blind, 
who forgets the momentous lessons which the iron tongue 
of time is daily telling. 

We have been kindly furnished with school rolls by 
different teachers in Clarendon, which we present below in 
order of time, and only regret that we have not some of an 
earlier day: 

Clarendon District, No. 10. 1836-7-8. 
Elviraette Lewis, Teacher (Mrs. D. F. St. John). 



DeWitt C. Hallock, 
True E. G. Pettengill, 
David Worden, 
Lewis Pierce, 
Gamalia Cady, 
Henry Cady, 
Fortunatus Hubbard, 
Silas Littlefield, 
Madison Littlefield, 
Josiah Graves, 
Luther Pierce, 
Elizabeth Philips, 
Eleanor Yates, 
Eunice Littlefield, 
Amanda Locke, 
Ann Rathburn, 
Louisa Graves, 
Wealthy Austin, 
Mary Yates, 



Names of Sclwlars. 

Wm. Root, 
Emory Rathburn, 
James Worden, 
Aaron Albert, 
Daniel Albert, 
Wm. Rathburn, 
Orrin Salsbury, 
Hiram Cady, 
Charles Turner, 
John Clum, 
Luther Ward, 
Lafayette Littlefield, 
Stephen Salsbury, 
Austin Salsbury, 
Porter Webster, 
John Patno, 
James Albert, 
Gilbert Clum, 
Betsey Pierce, 



George McCrillis, 
Albion Harris, 
Clarissa Locke, 
Annis Salsbury, 
Ann Salsbury, 
Philura Austin, 
Matilda Yates, 
Caroline Graves, 
Dolly Bennett, 
Jerusha Cady, 
Amanda Clum, 
Henrietta Garrison, 
Amanda Yates, 
Betsey Austin," 
Lena Philips, 
Amanda Albert, 
Eunice Pettengill, 
Sarah Locke, 
Clarissa Slocum, 



SCHOOLS. 



69 



Addison Philips, 
Joseph Patno, 
Henry Rathburn, 
Martin Slocum, 
Joseph Salsbury, 
James McCrillid, 
Henry W. Harris, 



Betsey Philips, 
Eliza Salsbury, 
Abraham Salsbury, 
Guy M. Salsbury, 
John Littlefield, 
George Turner, 
George Worden, 
Ann Yates. 



Priscilla Salsbury, 
Mary P. Patno, 
Alzina Eaton, 
Susan Bennett, 
Jeanette Austin, 
Melissa Austin, 
Betsey Yates, 



Note. — All of these scholars attended school at the old frame 
house in the Hubbard district. 

Clarendon, No. 1. 1838. 



Elviraette Lewis, Teacher. 



Amanda Yates, 
Lydia Hunt, 
Clarissa Locke, 
Abigal Brackett, 
Mary Ann Inman, 
Orrilla Inman, 
Polly Wetherbee, 
Cornelia Hunt, 
Eunice Holcomb, 
Eunice Pettengill, 
Sarah Locke, 
Ann Yates, 



Names of Scholars. 

Mary J. Pettengill, 
Arvilla Pettengill, 
Emeline Inman, 
Betsey Yates, 
Amanda Locke, 
Sophronia Millard, 
Rebecca Millard, 
Almira Holcomb, 
T. E. G. Pettengill, 
Silas Beebe, 
Consider Holcomb, 
Levi Brackett, 



Daniel Brackett, 
Samuel Holcomb, 
David Wetherbee, 
Benjamin Wetherbee, 
Henry Harris, 
Joseph Brackett, 
Nathaniel Brackett, 
Wm. Root, 
Levi Holcomb, 
Orson Millard, 
Samuel Wetherbee, 
Judson Pettengill. 



Note. — This school was held in the old frame school-house at the 
Christian church the first year — and after the brick. 



Clarendon, No. 5. 1838. 



Elviraette Lewis, Teacher. 



William Warren, 
Francis Bennett, 
Lathrop Coy, 
Sally Ann Coy, 
Caroline Warren, 
Frances Grinnell, 
Eliza Jane Grinnell, 
Emily A. Bennett, 
Luana Bennett, 
Eliza Roberts, 



Names of Scliolars. 

Mary Warren, 
Dicima Fuller, 
Dianna Humphrey, 
John Temple, 
Caroline Temple, 
Lucina Bennett, 
Nancy Bennett, 
Charlotte Grinnell, 
Albert Bennett, 
Abby Ann Humphrey, 



Leroy Coy, 
Ira French, 
William Bennett, 
Edgar Warren, 
Hiram Coy, 
Ann Eliza Bennett, 
Sarah Grinnell, 
Cornelia Grinnell, 
Charity Bennett. 



Note. — This school was kept, as we have mentioned, east of Ben- 
nett's Corners, and was select. 



70 



HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



Murray. 1839. 
Elviraette Lewis, Teacher. 

Names of Scholars. 



Lucy Dutcher, 
Laura E. Angur, 
Courson Sawyer, 
Zimri Perrigo, 
Mina Jenning, 
James M. Berry. 

Note. — This school-house was located near Farnsworth's Corners,, 
and was known as the Little Old Brick. 



Mellissa Ruggles, 
Mary J. Graham, 
Hannah Dutcher, 
Julia James, 
Eliza Dutcher, 



Robert Allen, 
Joseph MacOmber,, 
James Vincent, 
Amina Sprague, 
Clarissa Burlingame, 



Clarendon, No. 3. 1840. 



John Milliken, 
Alonzo B, Lewis, 
George Milliken, 
Stephen Glidden, 
Chester Baker, 
Charles Baker, 
Charles H. Bristol, 
Addison Philips, 
Emillus Merriman, 
Orson Howard, 
Horace Howard, 
Oscar Howard, 
Note. — This was 



Elviraette Lewis, Teacher. 

Names of Scholars. 

Henry Tanner, 
Drusilla Jenks, 
Josephine Davis, 
Emeline Howard, 
Mary J. Willard, 
Adeline Bates, 
Ellen Bates, 
Tryphena Baker, 
Orcelia M. Lewis, 
Mary J. Howard, 
Almira Church, 
Mingrelia Lewis, 

a select school in the 



Emily A. Merriman, 
Emma Sturges, 
Julia Hardy, 
Usebia Davis, 
Amanda Locke, 
Clarissa Locke, 
Rosina McKnight, 
Lena Philips, 
Betsey Philips, 
George Sibley, 
Nelson Sibley. 



village of Clarendon, 



Clarendon, District No. 3. 1846. 



Malvina A. Vandyke, Teacher. 



Alcy Ann Glidden, 
Cynthia A. Copeland, 
Harriet Darrow, 
Sophronia Glidden, 
Arvilla Woodard, 
Jane Woodard, 
Caroline F. Kirby, 
Maria Tousley, 
Jeannette Preston, 
Jane Preston, 
Amelia Newton, 
Adelia Newton, 
Mary Boles, 



Names of Scholars. 

Nancy Tousley, 
Elmira Baldwin, 
Martha Gibson, 
Mary A. Page, 
Mary Shorey, 
Adelaide Targee, 
Emily Grinuell, 
Content Cornwell, 
Sarah Fletcher, 
Nathaniel Grummons, 
Abram Knowles, 
Edwin Martin, 
Benjamin Crossett, 



Aid en Copeland, 
Simeon Glidden, 
Gustavus St. John, 
Ernest Mansfield, 
Leonard Boles, 
Martin Lewis, 
Edward Cook, 
Dallas Cook, 
John Kirby, 
Charles Martin, 
Alden J. Keith, 
Eldredge Farwell, 
Abram Coy, 



SCHOOLS. 



71 



Mary Brown, 
Mary Grummons, 
Adelaide Church, 
Lucy A. Foster, 
Louisa Lapp, 

Note. — This was 



Bryan Tousley, 
Edward Nay, 
Edwin Nay, 
Nicholas Darrow, 
Lewis Darrow, 
Henry Martin. 

the first winter term 



Francis Coy, 
Wm. Simes, 
Clinton Hood, 
Henry Fish, 
Henry Spencer, 

in the little room in the 



present stone school-house — John B. King in the large room. 



Clakendon. 1849. 
Malvina A. Vandyke, Teacher, 



Orvilla Pettengill, 
Eunice Pettengill, 
Mary Pettengill, 
Seward Pettengill, 
Darwin Inman, 
William Inman, 
Irving Hallock, 
Amos Wetherbee, 
John Wetherbee, 
William Wetherbee, 
Sarah Wetherbee, 
Delilah Clum, 
Juliette Clum, 
Pamelia Clum, 
Wheeler Mower, 



Names of Scholars. 

Alonzo B. Pullis, 
Alonzo Salsbury, 
William Salsbury, 
Alexander Salsbury, 
Mariam Salsbury, 
Levi Curtis, 
Charles P. Bannister, 
Merriman Wyman, 
James Lawton, 
Mary W, Root, 
Emily Keeler, 
Julius Rowley, 
Mary Brown, 
Charles Brown, 
Alonzo Baldwin, 
Abram Baldwin, 



Daniel W. Pullis, 

Note. — These scholars attended 
Christian church. 



Harmon Salsbury, 
Mary Barber, 
Mary Potter, 
Henry Bennett, 
Aaron Clum, 
Zebulon Packard, 
Urseba Salsbury, 
William H. Burns, 
Chauncey Burns, 
Edwin Walsworth, 
Matilda M. Annis, 
Stephen Salsbury, 
Cyrena Clum, 
Nancy J. Annis, 
Antoinette Bryan, 
Phoebe Raymond. 



at the frame school-house at the 



HOLLEY. 1850. 
Malvina A. Vandyke, Teacher. 



Marietta Keyes, 
Harlan Keyes, 
Berton Keyes, 
Clara Keyes, 
Herbert Steadman, 
Isabella Rockafellow, 
Harrison Rockafellow, 
Isadore Rockafellow, 
Daniel Standish, 
Beach Standish, 
Charles H. Rorabeck, 
Azur H. Rorabeck, 
Rohanna Carey, 



Names of Scholars. 

Mary Chamberlain, 
William Val lance, 
Jane Vallance, 
Margaret Graves, 
Franklin Porter, 
Emma Porter, 
Peter Cornwell, 
Ann Kelley, 
Eliza Wilcox, 
Mary Cramer, 
Mary Buel, 
Julia Orr, 
James Orr, 



Lavina Ogden, 
Caroline Orr, 
Helen Miller, 
Jane Morris, 
William B. Clark, 
James Osborn, 
Almyra Patterson, 
Mary Robb, 
Reuben Berry, 
Harriet Matson, 
Mary Stone, 
Charles Stone, 
John Fitzgibbons, 



72 



HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



Jerome Carey, 
Lucretia Carey, 
James Smith, 
Susan Cook, 
Orcelia Ogden, 
John W. Ogden, 
Frances Harper, 
Amelia Amsden, 

Note. — These 



from Dr. Cady's at Holley. 



Helen Orr, 
Marion Orr, 
Caroline Childs, 
Sylvester L. Matson, 
Milo Flanders, 
Edwin Flanders, 
Robert Osborne, 
Thomas Osborne, 

scholars were taught 



in 



Richard Fitzgibbons, 
Alfred S. Handy, 
Marion Hinds, 
Jacob Hinds, 
John Gibson, 
Mary Oibson, 
James Fitzgibbons, 
Isabella Orr. 

the school-house across 



Clarendon, No. 3. 1846. 
John B. King, Teacher. 



W. W. Winchester, 
William Cornwell, 
Albert Church, 
Horace Church, 
George Church, 
Seth Knowles, 
Albert R. Knowles, 
Walter Cole, 
George Parmer, 
Charles Turner, 
James McCrillis, 
Philip Preston, 
Charles Sturges, 
Levi Preston, 
Luther M. Peck, 
H Kirk Peck, 
Francis Peck, 
Nicholas Darrow, 
Bryan Tousley, 
John H. Kirby, 
Stephen Grummons, 
Nathaniel Grummons, 
Aurin Glidden, 
Harvey Knowles, 
Abram Knowles, 
Philip Knowles, 
W. H. Rosenbrook, 
Franklin Willard, 
Edward Nay, 
Edwin Nay, 
Henry P. Merriman, 
George Dodge, 
Robert Bowles, 



Names of Scholars. 

Charles J. Martin, 
E. Royce, 
Clark Royce, 
Joseph Thompson, 
Abram A. Coy, 
Abner Hopkins, 
James Burch, 
E. Burch, 
Philemon Burch, 
William Tousley, 
Martin L. Winchell, 
George H. Williams, 
Eldredge Farwell, 
William H. Burns, 
Harrison Burch, 
Edwin Rorebec, 
William Beebe, 
Lewis Beebe, 
Gustavus St. John, 
William Simons, 
Susannah Cornwell, 
Caroline Cornwell, 
Lucretia Cornwell, 
Content Cornwell, 
Mary I. Cornwell, 
Mary E. Darrow, 
Sarah Maria Darrow, 
Laura A. Darrow, 
Harriet Darrow, 
Almira Church, 
Adelaide Church, 
Jane Willard, 
Jane Winn, 
Clarissa D. Mitchell. 



Emily A. Merriman, 
Louisa A. Mosher, 
Rosamond Mosher, 
Orilla Preston, 
Jane Preston, 
Janette Preston, 
Lorraine Merrill, 
Emma Sturges, 
Mingrelia Lewis, 
Leonora Lewis, 
Orcilia Lewis, 
Cynthia A. Copeland, 
Lucy Dutcher, 
Sylvia Cone, 
Lucy Knowles, 
Rosaline Turner, 
Mary Glidden, 
Alcy A. Glidden, 
Nancy Tousley, 
Catharine Nay, 
Abigal Thompson, 
Mary M. Grummons, 
Helen Sawyer, 
Arvilla Woodard, 
Jane Woodard, 
Mary Shorey, 
Caroline F. Kirby, 
Mary Bowles, 
Polly Knowles, 
Angeline Barker, 
Susan Rorebec, 
Sarah J. Fletcher, 
Laura E. Farwell, 



Note. — This is sworn to by John B, King, March 27, 1847, when 
the term ended in stone school-house. 



SCHOOLS. 



73 



Rolls are also in the hands of District No. 3, given by 
John G. Smith, 1843 ; David N. Pettengill, 1844 ; Ira F. 
Philips, 1846; Almon Snyder, 1847; S. W. Stevens, 1848; 
David N. Pettengill, 1849; Malvina Vandyke, 1849; Orilla 
Inman, 1849 ; Adelbert McCrillis, 1849 ; David N. Petten- 
gill, 1850; Sarah W. Stevens, 1850; Henry A. Pratt, 1851; 
Clara B. Newman, 1852, whose list is the last in the book 
and is as follows : 

Cynthia A. Copeland, 
Mary May, 
Charles May, 
Amelia Cornwell, 
Homer Cornwell, 
George Slierwood, 
Elias Hoffman, 
Roslin Hoffman, 
Caroline Gardner, 
Mary Shorey, 
Viola Ruler, 
Nancy Toasley, 
Bryan Toasley, 
Mary Potter, 
Charles Sturges, 
Jane Preston, 
Janette Preston, 
Harriet Darrow, 
Caroline Jenkins» 



Emma Cook, 
Charles Cook, 
Mary Bowles, 
Leonard Bowles, 
Nancy Ogden, 
George Ogden, 
Leonard Ogden, 
Caroline Ogden, 
Georgette Mansfield, 
Ernest Mansfield, 
Mary Dutton, 
Alvina Johnson, 
Jane Johnson, 
James Johnson, 
Sarah Glidden, 
Sophrona Glidden, 
Simeon Glidden, 
Lydia Langworthy, 
Erwin Langworthy, 
Ogden Miller, 
Charles Martin, 
Henry Martin, 
Edwin Martin, 
Franklin Bennett, 
Fowler Far well, 



Gertrude Farwell, 
Ellen Farwell, 
Henry W. Whipple, 
George Preston, 
Lyman Preston, 
Gustavus St. John, 
Augustus St. John, 
William Lower, 
Lucius Winn, 
Eldredge Farwell, 
John Church, 
Adelaide Church, 
Alva Grinnell, 
Emily Grinnell, 
Esther Grinnell, 
Frances Coy, 
Abram Coy, 
Martin Lewis, 
Herman South worth. 



Harrison Southworth, Margaret Daltou, 



Calvin Patterson, 
Oliver Jenks, 
Henry Copeland, 
Alden Copeland, 
David S. Copeland, 



Ellen Dalton, 
Edwin Nay, 
Charles Angus^ 
Charles Martin. 



We have also in our possession tM^o rolls which were fur- 
nished us by Professor William L. French of Buffalo, but 
the names are included in the lists w^iich we have given, 
with a few omissions, among which may be noticed : 



Theresa Farwell, 
Ella Farwell, 
Hiram Joslyn, 
Selwyn Farwell, 
Lydia Patterson, 



Harvey Brown, 

A. M. Caton, 
George Cook, 

B. F. Hood, 
Clinton Hood, 
Gilbert Woodhull. 

Note.— All attending 1851 and 1852 in District No. 3 at the stone 
school-house. 

4 



Charles Wilkes, 
Lewis Peck, 
Luther Weirs, 
Truman Webster, 
Willis Whipple, 



74 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

These schools were visited by the inspectors while this 
office lasted, and also by trustees who took pains to come 
in and see the teacher and observe the progress of the 
scholars. Parents were in the habit of paying close atten- 
tion to their children, and it was seldom that a week 
elapsed without some person like N. E. Darrow, Mrs. Wm. 
H. Cooper, or Mrs. G. M. Oopeland tapped at the door and 
were gladly welcomed ; the ladies bringing their work with 
them to make each hour as useful as possible. Now, that 
the schools are so seldom visited, it would be wisdom to 
have in each district certain ones appointed for this pur- 
pose, who should make an annual report of their visits and 
the condition of the schools, both as to teachers and schol- 
ars, which should be published. 

Teachebs in Supervisors' Record. 

1856— P. A. Albert, E. H. Glidden, Julia Putman, Ann J. Cowles, 
Wm. O. Lord. 

1857— James S. Feezler, M. H. Cooley, Elizabeth V. Keeler, D. O. 
Bailey, Frances F. Hull, Ellen E.Holmes, P. A. Albert, Julia Glidden, 
Pamelia Glidden, Ann J. Cowles, Lydia A. Glidden, Eli D. Thomp- 
son. 

1858— E. H. Glidden, P. A. Albert, R. E. Howard, B. F. Hood, San- 
ford F. Emery, H. A. Pratt, E. D. Thompson, Eva Mathes, G. D. B. 
Miller, W. J. Yates, Mary J. Bartlett, Elmira Baldwin, H. A. Pratt, 
Mary J. Root, George Hood, H. P. Bartlett, Walter B. Hard. 

1859— Pliebe Shepherd, George D. Church, A. W. Wright, A. A. 
Eggleston, Miss A. Johnson, Miss Chipman, Miss E. Spencer, Miss 
S. Glidden, Elmira Baldwin, Ettie M. Richardson, Frances Carp- 
enter. 

I860— A. M. Copp, Geo. D. Church, J. R. Seeley, W. H. Taylor, A. 
H. Merrill, D. P. Cheney, Emily R. Chipman, Mary J. Root, M. H. 
Taylor, Sabrina Glidden, Elizabeth M. Stevens, Mary A. Post, Har- 
riet Darrow, Mary J. Gibson, A. P. Wetherbee, P. A. Albert, H. B. 
Joslyn. 

1861— Geo. D. Church, M. J. Bosworth, A. M. St. John, Mahlon 
Balcom, A. P. Wetherbee, C. J. Martin, J. R. Warren, Julius Rowley, 
G. B. Hood, S. G. Bartlett, Herbert Taylor, Addie Peggs, Amanda 
Reed, Julina M. Wyman, Amelia E. Fargo, Alyra P. Sprague, 
Sabrina Glidden, Electa L. Glidden, Maria M. Nelson, Geo. Mathes, 
Marcia Smith, Cynthia A. Copeland, G. B. Hood. 



SCHOOLS. 



75 



1862— Jolin W. Kennard, D. N. Pullis, Z. B. Packard, FS Fur- 
man, Milton J. Coy, E. H. Glidden, Julina M^ Wyman, William 
Westcott, Marion Patterson, E. T. Matson, H. B. Joslyn, John H. 
Taylor Wm Emmons, Sabrina Glidden. Electa Glidden, Imogene 
Brackett Rosetta E. Maxon, Thirza Stucky, Louise C. Stevens, 
Cynthia A. Copeland, M. L. Spencer, Jelina M. Wyman. 

1863— Sarah Mathes, Sabrina Glidden, Electa Glidden, A. C. Fred- 
erick B F Standish, Milton J. Coy, Louise C. Stevens, S. E. Howard, 
G. B.Hood, Charles J. Martin, A. Miller, Antoinette Fargo, Myra 
Sprague, 

1864— Julia E. Comstock, Mary A. Mallony, L. E. Bosworth. 
1865— D M. Inman, Mary J. Gibson, C. B. Cowles, Martha Hovey, 
Louise J. Howard, Sarah Glidden, Maggie Wheeler, Palmyra Shep- 
perd J D McCrillis, F. H. Glidden, John H. Taylor, Julia M. Orr, 
Angelina Glidden, Julia A. Culver, Mary E. Cramer, Mary E. Wil- 
cox Hattie A. Taylor, Ella Housel, Alice J. Blanchard, Mary Schedd, 
Alice S. Crannell, Mary French, Louise J. Howard, Darwin M. lu- 
man. Ana Bain. 

1866— M. F. Roberts, Lina Comstock, D. G. Glidden, D. M. Inman, 
Julia E Comstock, Alfrida Albert, John B. Copeland, Sarah Glidden, 
C B Cowles F H. Glidden, W. H. Westcott, Miss Benham, Miss 
Liukletter W. i.Hallock. Miss Comstock, Ellen Hill, Ella Coleman, 
Miss A Glidden, Frank Bosworth, E. J. Comstock, Mary E. Wilcox, 
R. E. Stuckey, Sarah Milliken, Jennie Wells, Ella Housel, A.C.Snyder. 
1867— Edward Whitney, Edward Pusey, Frances Foster, John N. 
Beckley F. H. Glidden, C. B. Cowles, Ella Housel, David S. Cope- 
land C L Hodgeman, Pratt Nelson, Mary Linkletter, Mary E. Gar- 
rison Miss Wetherbee, Clara C. Glidden, Frank McCrillis, Miss Cul- 
ver Miss Wilcox, Miss A. Carey, Susie Ashby, Miss J. Miller, R. 
Watson Copeland, Hattie Weed, Alice Peck, Miss Lower, Mary F. 
French, Sarah Milliken. 

1868— D M. Inman, Acinth Snyder, Smith Glidden, Agnes S. 
Wood, Geo.W. Sime, Mary E. Culver, Wm. Crittenden, F. W. Cook, 
Alfrida Albert, Mary E French, Calvin Patterson, Hattie Weed, 
Emma Benham, Alice Peck, Mary E. Wilcox, Sarah Richey, Louise 
Howard, Sarah Milliken, F. Glidden, Estelle Benham, Charles Reed, 
Merna Humphrey, Charles Hodgeman, Frank C. Bosworth, Merna S. 
Green. 

1869— Marv Gibson, Charles Edmund, Alice Peck, Julia M. Stevens,, 
Alice Blanchard, lola R. Caswell, Amelia Stuckey, Sarah Richey,. 
Emma Glidden, Minerva Hemingway, Estelle Benham, H. E. Hill, 
Dan S. Salsbury, S. E. Bowen. 

1870— A. G. Bush, Wm. Crittenden, D. M. Inman, David N. Sals- 
bury, Dempster J. Pratt, John Dutton, John H. Gray, Martha Hard- 
enbrook, Alfrida J. Albert, Dan Salsbury, Martha Wetherbee, Emma 
Durr, Agnes Wood, Minerva Green. 

1871— Perry H. Carver, Helen M. Sheldon, John H. Dutton, Eva 
Benham, Sarah A. Milliken, J. L. Johnson. 



76 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

1872 — George P. Preston, Amelia A. Stuckey, G. Newton Orcutt, 
Frances O. Rieley, Pratt Nelson, P. H. Carver, S. S. Albert, Dempster 
Pratt, Louis J. Hill, Libbie Lower, Marcia A. Day, Sarah V, Richey, 
Helen M. Sheldon, Mary Garrison, Ettie M. Turner. 

1873 — Mary E. Garrison, L. F. Nelson, Geo. P. Preston, Mary 
Willard, W. H. H. GofE, Julia M. Stevens, Mary E. French, Sarah V. 
Richey, Lutie Cook, J. H. Brooks, D. J. Pratt, Emma Hill, Nellie C. 
Case, Franklin Holt, Rowena Crane. 

1874 — Lyman Nelson, D. Pratt, Geo. C. Taylor, Rosa Fowler, Cora 
Andrus, Mary Garrison, Dan Salsbury, F. P. Wilcox. 

1875 — George P. Preston, David N. Salsbury, Julia A. Foster, F. 
P. Wilcox, Sarah Millikeu, E. H. Glidden, Mary E. Willard, L. J. 
Hill, H. C. Perry, Newton Orcutt, P. H. Carver, Florence M. Spier, 
Louise J. Sherv/ood, Julia Sackett, Anna McLane, Frank McAllister, 
Eliza Wilbur, Helen M. Sheldon. 

1876— E. H. Glidden, Charles Glidden, Fred. H. Stevens, F. P. 
Wilcox, Anna McLane, Hattie Wadsworth, Josie Philips, F. W. 
Glidden, Mary French, G. P. Preston, Dan Salsbury, D. M. Falconer, 
George C. Taylor, Eva Elliott, Ella L. Wyman. 

1877— W. M. Haynor, G. P. Preston, F. P. Wilcox, E. H. Glidden, 
F. M. McAllister, D. M. Falconer, Newell Gibson, Kate Knicker- 
bocker, Mary French, George B. Taylor, N. L. Cole, Lutie Cook, C. 
H. Glidden, Minerva S. Green, L. J. Hill, Sarah Cook, Eva Elliott, 
Ella Wetherbee, Ida Hatch, F. P. Wilcox. 

1878— W. F. Glidden, Ella W^etherbee, E. L. Warren, J. Fitzgerald, 
Eva Cook, T. Fitzgerald, E. H. Glidden, H. C. Perry, A. H. Sackett, 
Garrett Salsbury, Mary French, F. P. Wilcox, Clara Taggart, Annie 
Emery, Mary Kipp, Hattie Cook, Nora Wilcox, Marion Orr. 

1879— F. W. Glidden, Mary E. Wilder, G. P. Preston, D. C. St. 
John, J. F. Bryan, L. J. Hill, Sarah Cook, E. H. Glidden, Annie 
Emery, Frank T. Coy, Carrie Edmonds, Lizzie Strojan, Ella Wetherbee. 

1880 — James W. Lawton, Day W^ilcox, J. Fitzgerald, Julia Sackett, 
E. H. Glidden, R. J. McGowan, Cora Cook, Julia Hughes, Aaron 
Budd, Charles Perry, F. W. Glidden, Will Glidden, J. Fitzgerald, 
Sarah Fitzgerald, Anna McLane, Lina L. Warren, Genevieve L. Cook, 
Annie Emery, Macy E. Hill, Julia Sackett, Jennie Cowles, Lizzie 
Strojan, Ella M. Sanderson, Mamie Morgan, Dempster Pratt. 

1881 — E H. Glidden, Alex. Falconer, Charles Stevens, Edward 
Nelligau, R. J. McGowan, Aaron Budd, L. E. Akeley, N. L. Cole, 
Annie McLane, James W. Lawton, D. J. Pratt, Lizzie Strojan, Lutie 
Cook, Louisa Brooks, Elsa Root, Nellie Brackett, Louisa Allen, Anna 
Potter. 

1883— E. H. Glidden, G. P. Preston, Mrs. W. C. Tanson, W. C. 
Tanson, Charles Falconer, J. F. Bryan, C. J. Kelley, May E. Proctor, 
A. M. Potter, Alex. Falconer, W. L. Cole, Louise Brooks, E. P. True, 
R. M. McGowan, Rosetta Maxon, Lizzie Strojan, Anna Emery, Jennie 
Chadsey, Elizabeth C. Lower, Julia Hughes, Lilian Beck. 



SCHOOLS. 



77 



1888 — Aaron Budd, Charles H. Stevens, Alex. Falconer, Alva A. 
Sturges, G. C. Taylor, D. C. St. John, N. L. Cole, Hattfe Ellis, W. H. 
Leroy, G P. Preston, Anna L. Potter, Ella Calkins, Mamie Morgan, 
W. F. Glidden, Jennie Chadsey, Mary McKeon, S. E. Coleman, Sarah 
Rodwell. 

1884 — D. J. Pratt, Lilian Mower, Aaron Budd, John Ryan, D. C. 
St. John, Charles H. Stevens, Lucy Boots, L. J. Hill, Julia Hughes, 
James Falconer, Jennie Cowles, Mary A. Lyman, Alice M. South- 
worth, Effa R. Leonard, Lutie Cook, Jennie A. Wright. 

1885 — Addie Fowler, John Ryan, Hubert R. Glidden, R. Mills, Julia 
Hughes, Hattie D. Kay, Jennie Cowles, Ada Collins, Hattie Jones, 
Eva Miller, Carola Plum, Aaron Budd, Lucy Barber. 

1886— Herbert S. Glidden, Julia Hughes, D. C. St. John, Charles 
Wilson, C. H. Stevens, Jennie Cowles, Alfred M, Potter, Rachel 
Berhing, L. J. Hill, Julia Crossett, Jennie Jones, Hattie Barber, 
May E. King, George N. Brown, W. J. Thompson, J. L. Ryan, Charles 
Boots, Dan Albert, W. W. Brown, Aaron Budd, Anna Thomas. 

1887 — Dan Albert, Viola Williams, Hattie Milliken, Aaron Budd, 
John Ryan, D, C. St. John, Frank L.Foster, Alva Salsbury, E. H. Chase, 
Lola Church, E. Warren. 

In filling out this list correctly the author is met with 
obstacles very difficult to OYercome, such as ignorance and 
want of information, as the supervisors' record does not 
mark the teachers as such, leaving the writer to guess at 
the truth. David Wetherbee has furnished the author 
with a list of teachers at the Christian school-house as 
follows : 



Harriet Baldwin, 
David Matson, 
Mary Sturges, 
Bennett Hopkins, 
Munger Hopkins, 
Eunice Hopkins, 
A. Burnham, 
Elvi Lewis, 
Lvman Matson, 
E. Hallock, 
Loyal Palmer, 
Roxana Bates, 
J. Gt. Smith, 
Orlina Sturges, 



Electa Cole, 
J. G. Smith, 
Julia Palmer, 

D. N. Pettengill, 
Alonzo Sawens, 
Sarah Stevens, 
R, Barker, 
John Baldwin, 
James Savage, 
Malvina Vandyke, 

E. K. Tuttle, 
Amasa Howard, 
Adelaide Clark, 
Abigail Fairbanks, 
John H. Baldwin. 



J. J. Harper, 
Sarah Cornwall, 
John Brown, 
Uriah Sackett. 
Lucinda Carpenter, 
Polly M. Wetherbee, 
Heman M. Loomis, 
Leroy R. Sanford, 
Antoinette Pratt, 
George M. Street, 
Martin Angevine, 
Henry Street, 
Laura Ann Darrow, 
Parmer S. Rilner, 



Note— All of whom taught at Mudville, between 1835 and 1856. 



78 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEE lY. 

RELIGION. 

THE religious belief of any community is the out- 
growth of early impression and teaching. The ideas 
of the parents, and more especially of the mother, may be 
said to be the underlying strata upon which the child's 
moral opinions rest. As we look back to the old mothers 
of Clarendon, who taught their children the way they 
should go, we discover that their shades of religious belief 
were diametrically oj^posite. One could find in certain 
households the doctrine of universal salvation; in another, 
the call to repentance and the holding out to the sinner 
free grace through the atonement of the Saviour; and in 
other hearts the belief that the soul sleeps until the last 
great day, when the wicked will be consumed, root and 
branch, and the righteous only inherit eternal life. From 
the center of Clarendon to the farthest limits this diversity 
of opinion prevailed, and, like a plant that has been care- 
fully watched and watered, it has at last attained its present 
growth, the progress of which we shall give as impartially 
as possible, turning neither to the right hand nor the left, 
but asking only the guidance of truth in the statements 
we purpose to make. 

We shall open up this history with the Universalist 
church, as this was the first regular society in town which 
we can give in order, and was formed by the original 
settlers. The first meeting of this society was held at 
Holley, November 3, 1832, for the purpose of drafting a 
constitution and articles of faith upon which the church 



RELIGION. 79 

could, in the future, operate. At this call Eldredge Far- 
well was moderator and Levi Hard was clerk. It was called 
the Universalist Society of Clarendon and South Murray. 
Six trustees were elected, viz. : Eldredge Farwell, David 
Matson, James Orr, Eli Bickford, Harrison Hatch and 
Ezekiel Lee. The first members were as follows : Eldredge 
Farwell, George A. Porter, James Orr, Eli Bickford, Henry 
Wetherbee, David Matson, Benjamin Mallery, Ezekiel Lee, 
Edward Squires, Harlow Wells, Horace Moffatt, David 
Matson, Jr., Levi Hard ; in all, thirteen. These were the 
foundation stones upon which the church was laid, and 
they have mostly been covered for years by the dust of 
time, but their work and labor has had its reward, as 1888 
and all of the faded years, down to 1832, can fully show. 
Every individual which we have named was of sterling 
stufi"; men who, as Charles Sumner once said, were of the 
"vertebrate " order, and carried in their every-day life that 
certain amount of " sand" which is necessary to push even 
religious bodies through this opposing world. 

Li 1834, we find this society with 50 members, with 
such additional names as Calvin, C. Patterson, Linus 
Peck, L. B. Keeler, Horace Peck, Ezra F. Cogswell, Zar- 
deus Tousley, Jonathan Church, Harry Farwell, Joshua 
Vincent, Ezekiel Hoag, James Leake, William Wright, 
John Farwell, Ziniri Perrigo, Simeon Glidden, Betsy 
Glidden, Betsy Matson, Cynthia Bunnell, Levi Davis, Sally 
Farwell, Submit Farwell, whom we have taken out of the 
list in order that some idea may be formed of the char- 
acter of these first followers of Ballon. The first regular 
meeting at Clarendon of this society was held in the frame 
school-house, the 30th day of September, 1836. 

In 1835, the Universalist church was erected, the first 
building of any denomination in the town. Seth Knowles 
and Levi Davis were the stone-masons, and the contractor 
Philip Preston. This structure was built of stone, and 



80 HISTOTiY OF CLARENDON. 

these must have been taken from the quarries in the vil- 
lage, as they have the same api^earance as those in the 
grist-mill. There was a lofty spire to this edifice, which 
had a lightning-rod attached, which the school-boys loved 
to climb in order to show their sailorship. When this 
spire was raised, Fort Porter, the contractor, called for 
some one to crawl to the highest point. George W. Far- 
well said he would go as high as any other person, and, 
after he had climbed a certain distance, he backed out, 

came down, and said he be d d if he would go any 

higher ;" when David Matson mounted the gin-pole, and 
the spire was steadied at a height of nearly seventy feet. 
This spire becoming dangerous, after about forty years, it 
was cut down and left as it now stands. The old bell 
was bought in Troy, and since the day of its hanging has 
tolled most mournfully the death of many who heard it 
ring when going to church, and who little thought that 
its iron tongue would at last tell the years they had spent 
in this strange world. How often have we, when school- 
boys, heard it strike dolefully above us, and the teachers 
and scholars all looked up with that sad and astonished 
appearance which only a knell can produce upon the 
soul. And how often have we watched the swallows, as 
they gathered on the steeple, or some other part of the 
church, as we said, to hold a funeral over some one of the 
members of their busy society ; or just before they chirped 
*^Good-by" to Clarendon, have a parting consultation, 
each one having a word of cheer and encouragement, 
their little bodies full of motion, and their wings and tails 
keeping time to the chattering music. The next morning 
the old church was as solemn as a tomb-stone and as silent 
as some deserted tower, for the happy swallows, in the 
beautiful moonlight, had spread their wings toward the 
sunny south, not to return until they were certain of a 
sweet May or June welcome. 



RELIGION. 81 

The interior of this church had large and long galleries, 
which extended nearly around the building, where the 
'^ gods" could look down upon those in the pews below, 
and the audience crane their necks to hear the sweet 
music of the choir above them. Well do we call back the 
day when Horace FarwelFs body was borne into this 
church, followed by the Albion band playing the " Dead 
March in Saul," or, when moving slowly on foot to the 
Christian burying-ground, they sweetly sounded forth the 
rich notes of Pleyel's hymn, '' Hark ! a Voice divides the 
Sky." How many have been carried to their last home 
out of the middle doors ! How many steps have sadly 
moved out of the side doors, when their friends have been 
taken away, that have years since followed in the same 
procession to the silent city ! If this old church had only 
a voice, out of its stone walls, out of its solemn bell, out 
of its galleries, out of its doorways, what would it say for 
the historian to chronicle ? Truly, its silence is golden, 
beyond the power of all earthly language ! 

In this church have been held conventions, when the 
auditors could daily hear the silver-tongued voice of 
Montgomery, or listen with rapture to the words of Saxe, 
as he warmed up over his subject. Here too, could be 
seen Andrew Jackson Davis, the great disciple of spirit- 
ualism, walking lovingly from its portal down-town, and 
upon his face bearing that aspect Avhich his belief natur- 
ally inspired. In the long winter evenings the singing- 
masters would here call their scholars together from all 
parts of the town, while they ran up the scale from do-re- 
mi-la-sol, until Foote or Marsh would make their pupils 
nearly wild over this jargon, which some of the lads and 
girls took advantage of by having lots of fun all among 
themselves, and when the school was over they could not 
tell one note if they were to be gibbeted for the failure. 
Where is that old blackboard now ? Where that pointer? 



82 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Where those happy faces, those eyes that danced from 
light beams of blue, black, gray or brown ? Some are 
taking lessons of the angels, and others are waiting to join 
the school when the roll is called by the Great Master 
Originally the pews in this church were sold at auction, 
and became the property of the purchaser absolutely. A 
few seats were reserved for the stranger within the walls, 
when he, too, could sit under the shadow of the sanctuary 
and listen to the words of the minister from the lofty pulpit 
just at the entrance to the door. 

In 1869, John Church, L. A. Lambert and David 
Wetherbee were appointed a committee ^' to remodel the 
church according to their best ability." This they did by 
cutting away the side galleries, changing the pulpit from 
the north to the south, opposite the entrance, frescoing 
the walls, placing the choir near the pulpit, changing the 
seats and making the interior much more attractive and 
elegant. Christmas Eves come now with Christmas ships 
for the children, or trees loaded down with rich presents 
from those that love to remember each other. Rose Sun- 
days walk forth through its aisles, and upon its altar place 
beautiful flowers, and lovely children, all in white, bespeak 
the happiness that bubbles within. 

The movement for a parsonage was started early in 
1886, and in 1887 a fine house was erected just to the west 
of the church, at a nominal cost of $1,200. This adds 
very much to the appearance of the property, and the 
beautiful rockeries which the present pastor. Rev. F. B. 
Peck, has placed on the grounds is a source of admiration 
to all passers-by. If the society would plant some of the 
forest shade-trees around the circle, this would, in time, 
be a charming spot. When the sun rises above the 
eastern horizon, it throws its golden pencils through the 
richly-painted windows of this church, and, before it dis- 
appears through the western doorways of sapphire and gold, 
its last rays flood with beauty the quiet repose within. 



RELIGION. 83 

The present church was dedicated in 183?, and we give 

the following list of trustees, as taken from the church 

record, in the possession of the clerk, David Wetherbee : 

1833 — David Matson, Eldredge Farwell, Zardeus Tousley, Henry 
Smith, James Orr, Eli Bickford, 

1834 — David Matson, Eldredge Farwell. 

1835 — Zardeus Tousley, Levi Hard. 

1836 — James Orr, Jolin Batchelder. 

1837 — Simeon Glidden, Eldredge Farwell. 

1838 — Samuel Wetherbee, Zardeus Tousley. 

1839 — James Orr, David Matson. 

1840— Eldredge Farwell, Calviu C. Patterson. 

1841— Benj. G. Pettengill, Horace Peck. 

1842 — James Orr, Thomas Glidden. 

1843 — Calvin C. Patterson, Zardeus Tousley. 

1844 — Samuel Wetherbee, Geo. W. Farwell. 

1845— Henry Kirby, Geo. W. Peck. 

1846 — C. C. Patterson, James Halleck. 

1847— Geo. W. Farwell, Ira B. Keeler. 

1848— Ezekiel Hoag, Ira Philips. 

1849— B. G. Pettengill, C. C. Patterson. 

1850— G. W. Farwell, Samuel Wetherbee. 

1851— Ira Philips, Eldredge Farwell. 

1852 — Horace Peck, James C. Hallock. 

1853 — Samuel Wetherbee, David Matson, 

1854— Henry Kirby, C. C. Patterson. 

1856 — Hollis D. Matson, Hosea Shumway. 

1858— Hollis D. Matson, G. W. Farwell. 

I860— T. E. G. Pettengill, James Orr. 

1861— Elisha Farwell, Eldredge Farwell. 

1863— T. E. G. Pettengill, David Wetherbee. 

1864— C. C. Patterson, Elisha Farwell. 

1865— B. G. Pettengill. 

1866— David Wetherbee, B. G. Pettengill. 

1868 — John M. Wetherbee, Ebenezer Culver. 

1871 — Ebenezer Culver, Amos Pettengill. 

1872 — Perry Culver, David Wetherbee. 

1873 — D. W. Akeley, Amasa Patterson, 

1874 — David Matson, Ebenezer Culver. 

1875— David Wetherbee. 

1876 — G^o. D. Cramer, Stephen Church. 

1877— David Matson, E. Culver. 

1878—0. P. Culver, David Wetherbee. 

1879— Irving W. Hollister, G. D. Cramer, John L. McCrillis. 

1881— Charles H. Matson, Byron Tascar. 

1883— George P. Preston, L. A. Lambert. 

1884 — Perry Culver, Amos Pettengill. 

1885— John L. M. McCrillis, Britt Andros. 

1886— Walter T. Pettengill, L. A. Lambert. 

1887 — Peiry Culvtr, George Thomas. 

1888 — Britt Andros, George D. Cramer. 



84 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

From 1837, the ministers which haye been on this 
charge are given by David Wetherbee in the following 
order: Hammond, Nathan Sawyer, L. L. Spalding, Seth 
Eemington, F. L. Clark, W. B. Cook, A. Kelsey, D. C. 
Tomlinson, H. L. Hayward, A. Kelsey, J. J. Austin, W. 
Snell, Wm. Knott, W. B. Randolph, J. W. Broeffle, W. C. 
Tanson, E. R. Otto way, Wm. Knott, F. B. Peck, who is 
the present pastor, full of energy and ready at any moment 
to take his place at the wheel of labor. According to the 
statement of the pastor, the regular membership is now 30, 
and the attendance, as a rule, is very good. 

The Sunday-school was organized in 1843 — Ira B. Keeler 
first superintendent — and has Mrs. Geo-. D. Cramer as 
superintendent, with an attendance of nearly forty 
scholars. T. E. Gr. Pettengill has given an additional list 
of preachers, as Simpson, Morton, Whitnall, Townsend, 
Peck, Sadler, Doolittle, Abul, Sawyer, Remington, Clark, 
Smith, Jones and Chase. 

If we step outside of Clarendon village we shall find that 
the Christian Society was organized in Murray, September, 
1815, by the addition of a few names by Daniel Brackett, 
and on November 1, 1815, other persons by Elder Morris, 
and in the month of March, 1817, the church was regu- 
larly organized by Elder Robinson Smith and Elder 
Badger. Some of the early members of this society we 
have taken from the church record, in the hands of Josiah 
Lawton, viz. : Jesse Evarts, Wm. B. Worden, Levi Preston, 
William Burnham, Thaddeus Austin, Frederick Cogswell, 
Alpha 0. Rose, Thomas Annis, Landon Hood, S'ally Tous- 
ley, Jeremiah Austin, Polly Austin, Betsy Pierce, Phebe 
Burnham, Anna Preston, Dorcas Evarts, Sarah Brackett, 
Esther Miller, Susanah Russ, Mary Salisbury, and all 
these were members in 1815. 

In October, 1829, the Murray and East church at Ben- 
nett's Corners were united, and the church-book was given 



RELIGION. 85 

into the charge of John Millard, who was one of the chief 
corner-stones of this society. In the Bennett's Corners 
school-house, during revivals, we find such old preachers 
as Elder Call, Elder Badger, Elder Gates, Smith, Bigelow, 
Blake, Harrison, Hannibal, Parker, Rollins and Brackett, 
who used only a chair for their pulpit. The Bible and 
hymn-book were the only written sermons they possessed, 
and no doubt the common people heard them as gladly as 
nowadays, when it takes the minister a large share of his 
time to prepare an intellectual feast for his auditors ; and 
they must be courted and satisfied, or his head is as cer- 
tain to fall as was one of the Girondists during the Reign 
of Terror. These old school-benches were of hemlock, and 
they had no cushions on which to stretch their weary limbs 
when the prayer became tiresome, or the sermon too prosy. 

To these meetings in East Clarendon the people came in 
crowds in wagons or sleighs, and whether church-going 
was more fashionable than at the present we cannot say, 
but this part of the town at this day is only now and then 
visited by the minister, as he much prefers to occupy his 
own pulpit, and take life easy, than to ride over here, where 
bare walls and hard seats only welcome his coming. In the 
school-house at the Christian church, Elder David Mil- 
lard, Elder Danford, Call, Blake, Adams and Brackett 
could be heard in the brick walls. One of the girls attend- 
ing one of these meetings in a wine-colored pressed flannel 
dress, a certain sister remarked that " she was getting to be 
awful proud." What would this dear sister say if she was 
on earth now ? 

A certain elder, one night, left his buggy where the boys 
could examine it thoroughly, which they did, and finally 
took ofi* the wheels and buried them under the roots of a 
tree on the Alexander Annis place. The brethren were 
terribly worked up over this trick and raked the Jefferson 
lake to find them. When R. P. True was the occupant of 



:8Q HISTOEY OF CLARENDON. 

the Annis possessions, while he was plowing his share 
caught in something, and when he came to examine he 
found two old buggy wheels, which belonged formerly to 
the elder, who long before had gone to his reward, and 
many of the naughty boys either before or after. 

The Christian church at the " Corners," on the Barre 
road, was erected in 1838, by the Preston brothers of that 
day, who were first-class workmen. Manning Packard and 
Ebenezer Reed were also handlers of the plane and saw on 
this edifice, and Stafford, from Stafford in Genesee County, 
raised the spire and did the furnishing. The foundation* 
walls were laid by Samuel Salisbury, and the first regular 
minister was Elder Blake, who prophesied that the world 
would come to an end in 1844. Perhaps he had in his 
spirit's eye the earthquake which did take place in 1844. 
"We can give the name of A. Cornish, who was the pastor 
in 1841, preaching every other Sabbath, and receiving the 
sum of one hundred dollars for his support; the deacons 
to supply his place. In 1852, W. T. Caton occupied the 
desk; 1858, Elder Richard B. Davis; 1859, Elder 0. E. 
Bryant; 1861, Elder J. R. Hoag and T. D. Childs ; 1862, 
Aaron C. Parker. 

In 1830, at a church meeting of this society, it was 
resolved that a fund be raised for preaching brethren in 
penurious circumstances, and one dollar and thirty-one 
cents was collected for a cloak for Elder Gates ; and other 
subscriptions were handed in for needy ministers in sums 
of one shilling and up to two shillings, which were re- 
ceived by John Millard, Thomas Annis and Elizur Warren, 
as deacons. 

The records in this church are so uncertain that Ave can- 
not rely upon them as evidence sufiicient to base truth on, 
and therefore we leave them and give the name of James 
W. Lawton, who filled the pulpit with marked ability in 
our day, and who was succeeded by William Vreeland and 



RELIGION. 87 

dark, who have now retired, and the church is supplied 
hy different ministers. The support and maintenance of a 
minister has now become a matter of business, and lip ser- 
vice, in the nature of tougue wishes, rarely fill the pastor's 
purse with money, or supply his family with the comforts 
and necessities of life. Over at the " Brown school-house," 
where Andrew Brown was chorister, the Protestant Meth- 
odists had a strong society, and Elder Payne, Elder Miller 
and Elder Parker were the spiritual teachers, who pointed 
by faith the eyes and minds of their hearers to a better 
country. Where are they now ? 

This society fell into a church lawsuit, which is one of 
the devil's easiest methods to break up union and demon- 
strate, as the blessed Saviour says, " that a house divided 
against itself cannot stand ; " and this rule is absolute iu 
all religious bodies. The noted " White Mountain " suit 
between one brother and sister, when Benjamin G. Petten- 
gill was called in for three days to swear the witnesses, in 
order that they might be believed, broke this society in 
pieces, and no longer we hear of meetings held by Protest- 
ant Methodists in Clarendon. 

At the Eobinson school-house there were also meetings 
held at a very early day, and the hearers would generally 
take their dinners with them, hearing two sermons, in the 
forenoon and afternoon, sitting on planks that had logs of 
wood under them, and coming to the conclusion that Sun- 
day was one of the hardest days in the week, so far as sit- 
ting was concerned. When Griles Orcutt was one of the 
chief props of the United Brethren at this point, a church 
building was erected in which services were held, and. 
night after night, one minister, by the name of Hill, thun- 
dered in the ears of his hearers, and the interest for a time 
seemed to be lasting. But some evil power crept in here 
also and now this house, where once prayer was wont to be 
made, stands silent, deserted, unpainted, fast going to 



S8 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

decay, a sad picture of what has been since brother Orcutt 
went over the river. 

At the Cook school-house, Shubael Stevens, in the years 
gone by, held forth to large congregations, and quite often 
Elder Rollins, of Byron, would appear with his pleasant 
face and be listened to with delight by his many friends. 
Sunday-schools have been held at these points, but at pres- 
ent the children have no one to call them together and 
they must remain at home during the Lord's day, or, if 
they have a desire, ride either to Clarendon, Byron or 
Pumpkin Hill to seivice. 

The old red school-house in the Glidden district over 
forty years ago was filled by those who came to hear from 
the Word of God. And the same might be said of the 
Cowles ; but now all is changed, and it has been long years 
since the neighbors met to hear of heaven and hell. This 
portion of the town can, if they desire, drive their fine 
teams and carriages to Holley, Brockport or West Sweden, 
or idle away the Sabbath at home. Whether the people in 
the town generally were more religious than at present we 
know not, but of this we are certain, that the school-houses 
no longer echo to the tread of the minister and his hearers, 
or the voice of praise rises out of the windows to reach the 
courts above. Straws tell which way the wind blows, and 
we leave the reader to form his own opinion as to the relig- 
ious current in the school districts of Clarendon in 1888. 

The Methodist society in Clarendon is an ofishoot from 
the Hulberton charge, of which it forms a part. The old 
church in Hulberton was built in 1832, and with its grave- 
yard in the rear fast sinking in, and filled with weeds, 
bushes and briers, convinces the visitor that the memory 
of the bodies here entombed is not very precious, either 
in the sight or mind of those left behind. After the Stur- 
ges store had been erected, and when one room could be 
used with old-fashioned benches, we can remember of 



EELIGION. 89 

attending here to hear Sabbath-school lessons explained, 
and look into pasteboard books that we had no love for; 
as they abounded in long homilies on doctrines of faith, 
which we at that age did not understand, and in which 
we took no interest. 

After the old Cottage Inn of 1839 was abandoned by 
the guest and traveler, and the hall no longer echoed to 
the step of the dancer, this room was taken possession 
of, and meetings were held here. The Clarendon society 
was very feeble, and Methodists were looked upon very 
much as the Puritans were by the Cavaliers of the days of 
Charles II., and considered to be too particular in their 
dress, or in their ideas of religion. But time rolled, one 
by one, these prejudices out of the way of Methodism, 
and in 1852 George M. Copeland gave land upon which a 
church was erected, James Winn being the builder. The 
church was dedicated by Sumner Smith, and the small 
membership felt that they had a heavy burden upon their 
shoulders to sustain. But there were in this church mem- 
bers who were ready to do all in their power to advance 
its interests, and the names of Gibson and Vandyke, who 
have since gone to their reward ; while among the women, 
Mrs. T. G. McAlHster, Mrs. William H. Cooper, Mrs. 
Laura A. Copeland and Mrs. Benjamin Copeland, may be 
mentioned as a few whose every-day life made that spirit- 
ual impression uj)on the minds of the world, that in mor- 
uls had a powerful effect, and brought many accessions to 
the church that otherwise would have remained outside the 
pale. The church at this time required funds to keep its 
spiritual life in being, and fortunate was it in having 
George M. Copeland, in the old stone store, to look, not 
only to its building, but also to its financial management* 

In process of time sheds were put up, standing to the 
east of the church, and forming the west line of George 
M. Copeland's homestead boundary. These have since 



90 HISTORY OF CLAEENDON. 

been removed, and now the attendants can hitch their 
horses across from L. A. Lambert's, on Byron street. 
Formerly the church looked to the south, fronting the old 
red shop, and had large steps that ascended from Brock- 
port street, with a wide platform before the entrance. On 
either side one could go aloft into the gallery, which ran 
across the south end, where the choir sat, and Henry C. 
Martin blew his flute, while the singers' voices could be 
heard above its sweet notes. The audience looked to the 
north, facing the pulpit, which was heavy and massive, 
with lamps covered with globes, on either side, and a chan- 
delier of the same character suspended from the ceiling. 
The church was turned to the west, the interior greatly 
changed, stained windows introduced, and at present it 
has, with its vestry-room, a much more pleasing appearance 
than formerly. No longer the grand old poplar stands near 
its side, looking down upon the passer-by, or breathing a 
welcome to all that came within its shade. The sweet 
tones of the flute have died away, and the organ has taken 
its place, and the voices we once loved to hear in our 
boyhood days have, like some echo, been lost forever. 
Where are the faces we delighted to look upon in the church 
service, or in the evening meeting, or the Sunday-school ? 
Where now the heart-smiles that came from eyes glad to see 
us, and extend a hearty welcome ? Where now those low, 
plaintive hymns that floated away upon the air ? They 
are as silent as the lips of the singers, and sometimes we 
think that they were too spiritual for this money-day, and 
so have followed their lovers to that blessed country. We 
hear no more the deep, earnest prayer of Brother Vandyke I 
No more the soul-felt words of Brother Gibson ! Or, like 
some whisper, which we bend to hear, the soft words of 
that mother, and those other beautiful thoughts from noble 
women, who have since taken their journey to that land 
where sorrow has no abiding-place. We may now watch 



RELIGION. ^1 

the sparrows, as they talk to each other from the steeple ; 
we may in the summer month of June stoop to pick roses 
as sweet as heaven can make them ; we may pause to hear 
echoes that we once knew ; but in vain do we call back the 
Past, '' it is now only the memory-writing of the soul that 
we may know," only the phonograph music that we can 
hear in the chambers of the heart. If, as Carlyle says, 
words are never lost, but go down through eternity, what, 
then, will the treasure of this church bring forth when the 
books are opened, and its pages once more speak as in the 
voices of long ago ? 

In 1821 the Sweden Circuit of the Genesee Conference 
of the Methodist Church was formed, and John Cosart and 
James Hemingway were appointed elders. This must have 
embraced Clarendon, but no mention is made of this fact 
in Conable's History of the Genesee Conference, and no 
report is made of the church edifice which George M. 
Copeland, through James Winn as carpenter, built in 1851, 
on land which he gave for this purpose. School-houses, 
with the hall in the abandoned Cottage Inn, and the room 
above G. M. Copeland's store, were the places of meeting, 
and on February 13, 1848, a meeting was called for Feb- 
ruary 28, 1848, for the purpose of organizing the Methodist 
Society of Clarendon, and on this date they made Rev. 
Eeuben C. Foot and George M. Copeland chairmen, and 
elected as trustees for that year, William Gibson for three 
years, Daniel Carpenter, Norton Webster, George M. 
Copeland and Benjamin Pettengill. 

1849— "Benjamin Pettengill, for three years. 

lS50_Norton L. Webster and George M. Copeland, three years. 
Subscription for church. -,.-,-, ^i 

1851— Daniel Carpenter and William Gibson elected for three 

years. 

1852— Benjamin Pettengill, three years. 

1851— Thirty-nine seats sold, by contract, for $1,455, to ditterent 

parties. , _ , 

1853— N. L. Webster and George M. Copeland, three years. Deeds 

given for seats. 



92 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

1863 — N. L. Webster, two years, Benjamin Pettengill two years, 
George M. Copeland, two years, Daniel Carpenter, three years, Har- 
ley Hood, three years. Re-incorporated this year under the same 
name. 

1864 — Norton L. Webster made trustee for three years. 

1865 — George M. Copeland and Benjamin Pettengill, three years. 

1868 — Norton L. Webster, for two years, and Harley Hood for 
one year. Election changed from February to January, the third 
Monday. 

1868— Enlargement of the church to the amount of $2,500. D. D. 
Cook, pastor. House re-dedicated January 14, 1859. Rev. D. W. C. 
Huntington gave sermon. Rev. S. Hunt superintended collection 
($1,100 raised), assisted by Elder Thomas Chambers. Rev. S. Seager, 
Presiding Elder. 

1869 — Benjamin Pettengill and George M. Copeland, trustees three 
years. 

1870 — John Richey and Simeon D. Coleman, three years. Sexton 
appointed at a regular salary. Organ purchased of H. C. Martin. 

1871 — N. E. Darrow made trustee for three years , George 
Sturges, sexton ; David P. Wilcox, treasurer of penny collection 
fund. 

1872 — George M. Copeland and Benjamin Pettingill, for three 
years. 

1873 — John Richey and Hiram Joslyn, three years. 

1874 — N. E. Darrow for three years. Isaac Kelley was made sex- 
ton at $50 a year. 

1875— George M. Copeland and Benjamin Pettengill, three years. 

1876 — Thomas Turner and Hiram Joslyn, for three years. 

1877 — N. E. Darrow, three years. 

1878 — Benjamin Pettengill, three years, and George M. Copeland. 
George M. Copeland offered a lot for parsonage. Subscription for a 
parsonage. 

1879— Simeon D. Coleman, Hiram Joslyn and Thomas Turner, for 
three years. 

1880 — N. E. Darrow for three years. 

1881 — Benjamin Pettengill and George M. Copeland, for three 
years. Parsonage barn-contract given to George Mathes. 

1882 — Church out of debt, as to buildings and other matters. 

1882 — Simeon D. Coleman and Thomas Turner, for three years. 
Exchange of shed lots. 

1883 — N, E. Darrow, for three years. 

1884 — Benjamin Pettengill and George M. Copeland, three years. 
Session-room addition. Loss by fire adjusted. 

1885 — Simeon D. Coleman and Thomas Turner, three years. Voted 
to have seven trustees. David P. Wilcox, one year, James Gibson, 
three years. 

1886 — Nicholas E. Darrow and David P. Wilcox, three years. 
Election of trustees as to notice. 

1887 — James Gibson and George M. Copeland, three years. 

1888 — S. D. Coleman, George H. Turner, for three years, and 
James Carman in place of David P. Wilcox, resigned. 



KELIGION. 93 

Among the different ministers since 1852, we may name: 
Conable, Lankton, Richards, Cook, Barrett, McEwin, 
Sparrow, Woods, Swift, Staples, Tuttle, Swartz, Maryott 
and Craw. 

There have been in Clarendon members of other denom- 
inations, such as the Baptist and Presbyterian, who have 
attended church either at Holle}^, Byron Center or Pump- 
kin Hill, and at an early day at West Sweden; but when 
Horatio Reed, of Bergen, passed away this year, he was the 
last representative of a church that stands now deserted, 
save for shows and political meetinos. The Catholic 
church has nearly two hundred communicants in town, 
and they attend at Holley, under the charge of Rev. James 
Leddy, who is considered by the whole church to be a 
priest of fine mind, and very spiritual in his nature and 
life. Patrick McKeon, of Clarendon, has been trustee of 
the Holley church for seven years, and is well constituted 
to discharge the duties of this office, and has lived to see 
the whole indebtedness paid, and the church established 
upon the rock of safety and jd regression. 



94 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTER y. 



HOLLEY ROAD. 



TT/^ have thought it best to take the principal roads of 
' » Chirendon with all others intersecting them, as they 
radiate to the different points of the compass, giving to each 
of them the name that they have generally borne, and, in 
other instances, naming them after some early settler or 
other person, by which they might plainly be distinguished 
both at home and abroad. The surveys have been taken 
from the town book, which bears date 1824, but which 
contains surveys from the original town book, when this 
town was know as Sweden, prior to 1821. We have not 
been able to find an original survey of the Holley road as 
it leads from Clarendon to Holley, and shall, therefore, 
pass this over and confine ourselves to the road as it was 
first known to the oldest inhabitant. 

In the year 1815, what is now know^n as the Holley road 
was a heavy growth of timber, beech and maple, save here 
and there ash in the low or swampy portions. The traveler 
had the privilege of following a narrow path, and even this 
was but little used, as Holley had, at this time, only a shanty 
existence, and the foundation of this place was the work of 
Aarao Hamlin, who was the chief merchant, and did all in 
his power to build up its interests. It is said that he con- 
tributed fifteen hundred dollars out of his own means to 
make a direct communication through Clarendon to Byron, 
and thus encourage trade toward Holley, which might 
have been diverted to Scio, as Hulberton was formerly 
called. In 1815, Broadstreet Spafford, the step-father of 



HOLLEY ROAD. 95 

Colonel Nicholas E. Darrow, raised a log-honse near the 
spot now occupied by the late residence of George S. Sals- 
bury and his wife, Amanda Annis, who now owns the land. 
The woods all around heard from morning until night the 
ring of Nicholas E. and Lewis Darrow's axes, and orchards 
now yield fruit where at that day giant trees cast their 
shadows. When Nicholas was a lad he brought from 
Churchville to this home three small cherry sprouts, and 
these were placed in the soil near the log-house. Two of 
these sprigs lived, and persons in passing, took shoots from 
the first cherry trees of which we have any knowledge in 
Clarendon. 

In 1820, a stranger, having grafted apple trees, stopped 
at Spafford's over night, and for his lodging gave two trees, 
the one a russet and the other a greening, which were named 
Father and Mother, and were the first grafted trees in this 
section of the town. The Father still stands just in front 
of the house, overhanging the highway, and during the 
war, when apples were five dollars a barrel, the sum of one 
hundred dollars was realized from this noble tree. 

When this road was cut through to Holley, it ran farther 
to the east, in a line south of the present orchard of A. J. 
Potter, passing to the east of Alexander C. Salsbury's 
house, over the hill toward Holley, due north. There was 
a log-house at this time on the east side, near Hiram 
Joslyns, in which lived one Davis. lie made spinning- 
wheels where now the Hood road angles to the north-west 
into the Hood district. Many of the early residents of 
Clarendon used his wheels when spinning was the order 
of the day. When this road was a marked path, Hiram 
Spafford lived just to the north of John Nelson's present 
line fence. He was a noted deer hunter, and in the old- 
fashioned game of base-ball had few equals. In those days, 
Cyrus Hood, Alvin Hood and Willard Dodge were all noted 
players, and often beat the Sweden lads at the bat and base. 



96 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Hiram threw in the middle, and but rarely allowed one to 
miss his judgment. Once upon a time he was arrested by 
Constable Savis, and held in durance vile at Col. Lewis', 
on the Byron road, but he broke his bonds, fled into the 
woods, and that was the last time that Clarendon or the 
constable knew of his presence. 

Orlin Spafford built his fires where now A. J. Potter has 
his home, and at McCarty's, Daniel Foster could be seen to 
go in and out of his shanty. The old stone house on top 
of the hill, where John Nelson resides, was built from the 
money of Amos Cady, by Lyman Young, who did the 
wood-work in 1832. This Young was also a worker on the 
Farwell Mills, and moved into Ohio. This place is one of 
the most sitely between Clarendon and Holley, and has not 
only the benefit of July and August breezes, but also the 
full influence of December and March winds. In 1815, 
there was only one house north of Broadstreet Spaft'ord's, 
and this was Reuben Lucas's, on the old Hutch possessions 
before entering Holley. The first frame-house on this road 
is the weather-beaten one, with heavy porch, across from 
Amanda Salsbury's, and was built by Lewis Darrow in 
1839. The Luke Turner house, now occupied by Corydon 
Northway, is nearly of the same age. In 1821, Benjamin 
Harper lived across from the peach orchard, where a few 
years since Hiram B. Joslyn had the finest of fruit, until 
the '^yellows" came in and forced him to dig the trees up 
by the roots. 

Farther to the east, toward the Indian lot, one William 
Hiscock saw the smoke rise heavenward, but whether he 
was one of the stock from which our State Senator sprang, 
we are unable to state. The frame-house, when Harley 
Hood took his departure to the unknown country, was 
originally framed by John Milliken, who has now laid 
down his bundle and rests quietly by the wayside of 
life. Benjamin Ogden formerly owned the Hood territory,. 



HOLLEY ROAD. 97 

long before Harley left the Hood district, where he once 
labored, eat and slept. East of Harley Hood's was Jothura 
Bellows, and if he possessed any of the peculiarities of his 
noted son he must have been worthy of observation and 
reflection. Every traveler over this road can but call to 
mind the large poplar to the south of Harley Hood's, which 
has braved the storms of Clarendon for at least seventy 
years. Blown down in January, 1889. When this tree 
was about the size of a man's arm. Captain Aseph Perry 
and Alvin Ogden had their home near its shadow. The 
large willows just belov/ the bridge, south of Amanda 
Salsbury's, were placed there by the Darrow brothers, 
when they occupied the land, but they have been cut 
down, and no one was present to say, '' Woodman, 
spare that tree," and the place that knew them for 
over fifty years now knows them no more. The Darrow 
brothers cleared up the whole of the Spafford home- 
stead and fifty acres toward Alexander C. Salsbury's, and 
to the west on the Sawyer road. Charles Burns, the father 
of Mrs. Josiah Lawton, came on to the William Gibson 
place in 1828, from the town of Oppingham, in Mont- 
gomery county of this state, and went to Ohio in 1836. 
He was overseer of this road district in 1835, a very large 
man, full of native push and energy. He built the first 
grain and horse-barns on the Gibson place, and set out the 
old orchards. 

At this time there was no neighbor north until Lucas 
was reached, and on the Hood road the deep woods 
abounded. It was rumored at this time that one person 
was thrown into the Lucas w^ell, which stood on the west 
side of the present highway, as the individual very myste- 
riously disappeared and the well was filled with stones. 
Thomas Burns built a canal-boat in 1835 back of Charles 
Burns' barns, and it was drawn by teams of Burns and 
Cady to Holley, and sailed the raging Erie at that early 
5 



98 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

da}^ on a fishing excursion. In 1831 Mrs. Josiah Lawton 
was often, with other children, in the winter-time, hauled 
to the Hood frame school-house by William Hopkins in a 
crockery crate, which must have been a fine cutter. One 
Phillips who lived on this road was in the habit of pound- 
ing his wife when he was loaded with fresh still whisky at 
two shillings a gallon. She ran for protection to Amos 
Cady's, where William Gibson on the said evening hap- 
pened to be. Over came the irate husband to drag his wife 
home, followed at the heels by a gang of Holley roughs. 
Gibson was naturally very quiet and peaceable, but when 
he snatched the tongs from the fire-place and cleaned out 
ihis mob, they came to the conclusion, as usual, that Clar- 
endon had too much brawn and blood for Holley to tackle. 

The home of Alburn Joslyn was formerly the homestead 
of Jabez Joslyn, also the father of Hiram. The old or- 
chards all bear the Joslyn stamp, and one would know by 
their lofty trunks that they belonged to a day when men 
wished to elevate themselves as high as possible above sub- 
lunary things. In the Hood settlement, around the Hood 
school-house, Cyrus, Chauncey, George and Harley all held 
brotherly communion. Alvin Hood studied medicine un- 
der Dr. Carter, but whether he left any graves behind him 
we cannot say. 

Jacob Sawyer, after whom we have named the road which 
leads by the school-house toward Holley, was the owner of 
the lands over the way from where the pedagogue, in his 
^' noisy mansion, skilled to rule," taught the district school. 
In an early day, Oliver Harper was on the Sawyer premises, 
and, latterly, Col. Charles James, once collector of San 
Francisco, held sway, until he left the place, forsaken, only 
by tansy and. other weeds, to gamble in Wall-street stocks. 
A large oak tree whispered its leafy words years ago near 
A. J. Potter's, and the shade- trees on either side were put 
out by modern occupants, as the ancients took special de- 



HOLLEY ROAD. 



99 



light in cutting down the grand and lofty maples, leaving, 
by chance, one near Hiram Joslyn's and another farther to 
the south and west. When Lewis and Nicholas E. Darrow 
were nine years of age they had axes to chop with, and 
their muscles must have been as the bark of the ironwood 
compared with that of the youth of 1888. 

When Broadstreet Spafford raised his log-house, a short 
distance to the east could be seen the poles where formerly 
the Indians had fifty lodges. In 1815 Spafford killed the 
last gray w^olf seen in this section and was paid a state and 
county bounty of ten dollars each. 

Lewis Darrow died at the age of thirty, having received 
a hemorrhage from jumping against Guy Salisbury, whom 
he beat, after the latter person had proclaimed himself the 
champion jumper of Clarendon. When Nicholas E. Dar- 
row was a district school-teacher he was much puzzkd over 
that rhyming example in Ostrander's Arithmetic, and for 
days and nights he could not arrive at the solution, until 
one night, when going to a country dance through the 
woods, some spirit came to his rescue, and he no longer saw 
through a glass darkly, but figure to figure. 

John Keed of Sweden at one time owned one hundi'ed 
acres of beautiful wood, now commanded by the Ohace 
mansion in its view. At this time there was only a small 
clearing to the north on the Sawyer road and Reed in- 
tended this fine property as his future home. He sold out 
to James Miller in 1840, and Martin Coy was offered the 
whole lot for forty dollars an acre and was afraid to buy. 
Abram Salisbury sold out to C. H. Chace for some twelve 
thousand dollars, and the ex-Mayor of Kansas City would 
not sell an acre which he owns less than two hundred 
dollars. Across the road from the Chace mansion, when 
the country was new, Avere a number of large cucum- 
ber trees, and many of the fine butter-bowls which the 

sfood mothers used were from their sides. The beautiful 
LoFC. 



100 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

avenue of maples which reaches from the south line of the 
Chace property was set out in 1859 by James Miller, and 
the trees were dug up to the west of the house by one 
Murphy, and are to-day beautiful to look upon ; the grand- 
est monument that Miller could have possibly erected to 
his memory. If the old settlers, or those living at this 
time, had followed his example, the road from Clarendon 
to Holley would have been one of the finest avenues in 
the whole country, and would have blessed men who are 
now nearly forgotten. 

The stone barns on the Chace property, as well as the 
walls, were all built of red sandstone taken from the fields 
near by. If we pass down by Curtis's mills, we shall find 
the fields covered with sandstones of this quality, so that 
one can pass from one to the other in the lots. St. Paul's 
church in Buffalo was built out of stone which came from 
Samuel Copeland's quarry in Hulberton, and this is only a 
continuation of the same strata which may be found adja- 
cent to this road. The very large orchard of one hundred 
acres on the Sawyer road, which was planted under the 
orders of Frost, of Kochester, will produce in 1888 about 
six thousand dollars worth of apples. Charles James had 
at one time, on the same road, twelve acres of pears, and at 
present the yield of currants is very great. 

The number of orchards on this road reach fifteen, and 
year after year, except in rare seasons, the supply of apples 
for the Holley market is very large. These apples stand an 
ocean voyage Avell and are to be found on the tables of the 
old world. Formerly the trees were allowed to grow high, 
requiring ladders of thirty feet or more to reach them, but 
latterly the tops have been cut out and they are much more 
accessible to the picker. 

To the south of John Nelson's is the old gravel-pit from 
which many thousands of loads of gravel have been taken 
for the repair of the road. At one time Miller and Pet- 



HOLLEY KOAD. 101 

tengill did much labor in the improvement of this road, 
but the heavy loads of cider and vinegar which they have 
daily drawn over it, have, in bad seasons, made it almost 
impassable, and the time will surely come when stone- 
crushers will be brought into use to make this highway 
what it should be, firm and lasting. One of the chief 
objections to foot-travel may be found in the presence of 
large quantities of weeds, that are allowed to grow from 
year to year, despite the laws to the contrary. If the poll 
system was at once abolished, and a road commissioner 
made wholly responsible for the appearance and condition 
of the highway, then we should see native grasses growing 
luxuriantly, which could be mowed by the owners or occu- 
pants as they would their fields. The soil on this road is 
mostly a sandy loam, there being but little yellow clay, 
and that in the lowlands. Abram Salsbury has sold, on 
this road, land enough to make a small park foi' the vil- 
lage of Holley, and trees have already been planted. 

As we go down the Curtis road, which leads to the old 
mills of Curtis and Lucas, we find ourselves at once in 
the presence of an old stone-mill, which has been used as 
a cider-mill for many years. At this point Reuben 
Lucas had a grist-mill, and all the old surveys by Chaun- 
cey Robinson make this a noted spot. A frame saw-mill 
converted many logs into lumber here. Curtis at one 
time made tables, stands and lounges, and Horace Peck, in 
1887, had in his possession an old table of his workman- 
ship. Thomas Ennis built tlie old stone-house of Lucas', 
also the stone school-house and stone blacksmith-shop in 
Holley, and the foundation of David Sturges' house in 
Clarendon. Meetings were at one time held at Curtis' 
stone-house, where the neighbors came to join in jDrayer 
and praise. There was one log-house to the south of 
Curtis' in 1836, and Daniel Avery lived across the creek. 
The shingles for the old blacksmith-shop at Lawton's 



102 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Corners, or Mudville, were sawed at the saw-mill of Lucas 
and Curtis over fifty years ago. 

Daniel Avery, in one of his nightly excursions on the 
"Wyman road, gave the great rock in front of Martin 
Higgins' a stunning blow, thinking it some giant in his 
pathway. William R. Avery was one of Clarendon's best 
fiddlers in the old log-cabin days. Time has made many 
marked improvements in this section, and the fine home 
of Martin Hennessey, on the Curtis road, stands where 
once the scholars could hear the stentorian voice of Luther 
Peck, when he handled the rod. James Nelson rests 
quietly in his happy home where formerly a different race 
had their abode, as the Albany Museum can show at this 
day. The water roars through the ravine into the gulf as 
it did when the channel was first opened, but its notes 
are not so loud ; its voice has died away into a ripple, 
and the red-man would mourn over the change if he sat 
again by its murmurs. Only one of the old inhabitants 
is left, in the person of Hiram Joslyn, and his early friends 
have all taken their silent journey. The fences, walls, 
orchards and many of the houses have a sad language 
that whispers of faces that time has rubbed from the cameo 
of life. 



BROOKPORT ROAD. 103 



CHAPTEE YI. 

BROOKPORT ROAD. 

THE first mention which we have of this road, well 
known to the old settlers, is to be found in a survey 
made in 1816, by Zenas Case, Elisha Brace and David 
Glidden, of that year, and recorded in the old town-book, 
giving metes and bounds. This has from that day been 
known as the fourth section road, but we have given it 
the above name from the fact that it leads east and north 
from Clarendon to Brockport. This is the same route 
over which Eldredge Farwell traveled with his family from 
the creek, where now William Stuckey lives, in 1811, in 
the month of March. This road at present joins the 
Lake road to the east, which runs from Le-Roy to Lake 
Ontario, from which it received its name. The surveys 
have been changed at different times, even up to 1819, 
when it seems to have been settled in the minds of the 
pioneers. In 1815, this road was but a path, and ran 
across the lands of Benjamin Thomas, lately Josiah 
Clark's place, in almost a straight line to FarwelFs Mills or 
Clarendon. 

Horace Peck, in 1816, traveled this road or path through 
the deep woods, with only a clearing now and then, the 
whole distance from the Lake road to Farwell's Mills. At 
this time Alanson Dudley had purchased of Eldredge Far- 
well a triangular piece of land which joined William D. 
Dudley on the Byron road, and which is now in the posses- 
sion of Martha and Sarepta Evarts. There was no house 
on this road, in 1816, all the way from John French's, 



104 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

below Hill's or Bennett's Corners to the " Mills." Shortly 
after, a log-house rose in the woods, where now the fine 
residence of William Stuckey greets the eye, where a son 
of Crispin, in 1821, by the name of Elnathan Johnson, 
made shoes, and they lasted well, as Nicholas E. Darrow 
remembers, for he knew their quality and power of endur- 
ance by actual wearing. After the departure of Johnson, 
Dr. Benjamin Bussey moved into the shanty, and he was, 
as we have stated, the first regular physician located in 
Clarendon. The doctor's wife was a noted fiddler, and 
this was known to all the country round as the place for 
the lads and lassies to hoe it down on the basswood floor. 
Allen, from Sandy Creek, a well-known violinist, often 
rosined the bow here, but he has long since passed away 
and met his Paganani and Ole Bull in that country where 
music had its origin. The dancers generally gathered 
here as early as seven in the evening, and the rosy streaks 
of the morning beheld the trip of the light fantastic toe, 
or the whirl of boots that belonged to a race of sturdy 
lads. There was no calling-oH in those days, the fiddler 
having his or her soul centered in the strings of the violin. 
When the boys became thirsty, whisky-sling was passed 
around, while the girls took a little wine for the stomach's 
sake. Two lads generally carried to the dancers maple- 
sugar shortcake, which was eaten standing, while dough- 
nuts helped to fill up the demands of hunger, without 
plates, knives or tables. What fun these simple couples 
must have had in their log-cabin jokes, long before style 
came in to teach Clarendon the hypocrisy of afiectation ! 
The violinist was paid one and two shillings for each 
couple, and "all went merry as a marriage bell." Some 
walked home with their lassies, others had ox-sleds on 
which to draw their loves, and occasionally a nag bore home 
the precious burden of home-made flannel or fifty-cent 
calico. Horace Peck well remembers the night when an 



BROCKPORT ROAD. 105 

ox-sled overturned the bojs and girls in the forest, and left 
them for the moment, as he said, '^ heads and points," in 
rare confusion. Old Dame Nature laughed so heartily 
that night that some of the trees split themselves just in 
fun. But these girls had no catarrh to snuff, or rheu- 
matism to grunt, and what was the use of living without 
some change or variation in the monotony. 

In the old orchard, south of the creek, not far from A. 
D. Cook's home, Isaac Hunton snored loud enough to 
awaken Rip Van Winkle, if he had been on earth at this 
time. To the east was the dwelling of Jeremiah Glidden, 
on the George Mathes estate, and he first planted the old 
fruit-trees and did the original clearing. The present 
frame-house was boarded by Simeon Howard, who laid 
his body, years ago, in a house of a different character, 
under Clarendon's soil. As the records show, Jeremiah 
Glidden was our supervisor in 1823 and 1824, and in 1821 
his road-tax was four days. Nathaniel Hun toon, in the 
same year, lived in this district, and his abiding-place was 
where the pump of Col. N. E. Darrow sends forth its lime- 
stone draughts. Afterward, Nat, as the boys called him, 
moved to the eastward, and the settlement was known as 
Natville. Hard by Huntoon's first shanty was Daniel 
Avery, and these two residents were old chums. Huntoon 
was generally chosen as the lucky one to carry the whiskv 
at all the logging-bees on this road, and Warren Glidden 
sometimes followed him with a jug of water, to cool the 
extract of corn or wheat. Warren required good legs to 
keep step with Uncle Nat, who thought the best way to fill 
the boys' stomachs would be to double the corners, which 
they successfully accomplislied on what is now known as 
the John Downs farm, west of Bennett's Corners. 

In 1826, Nicholas E. Darrow moved into Huntoon's 
first shanty, after marrying Noah Sweet's daughter, then 
the belle of Clarendon, and who has ever been one of its 



106 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

most beautiful women, both in countenance and character. 
The present house of Colonel Darrow was built in 1842, by 
Ira B. Keeler, and when he first took up the land only a 
small portion had been cleared. One has only to walk over 
the colonel's possessions this day to be thoroughly con- 
vinced that he has been a very active worker among the 
stumps and stones of Clarendon; and certainly no farmer 
in town keeps his buildings in better repair, and everything 
in more perfect order and taste. When a young man the 
colonel saw the wigwams of two Indian families, on 
what is now known as the Indian lot. The squaws 
would borrow a frying-pan, or spider, to cook in, and in re- 
turn would bring venison to the colonel's home. But the 
tread of the white man was too heavy for them, and they 
folded their tents, like the Arabs, and stole sadly away to 
the shades of Tonawanda. The colonel has in his posses- 
sion a cherry secretary which once belonged to his father, 
when he was a sheriff in Columbia county, of this state, 
which was made before the Kevolution, and is to-day one 
of the best in the whole town, and must have cost, origin- 
ally, seventy-five dollars. On this territory formerly grew 
large upland pines, and they were used in the construction 
of heavy timbers for the Farwell mills. But they have all 
passed away, and not one of their sighing children is now 
to be seen. 

Beyond the colonel's, on the north side of the road, 
Avery made potash, and Elisha Whitney occupied the laud 
where George Farwell built the house now owned by 
Horace Farwell, the youngest son of Eldredge Farwell, Jr. 
Horace Farwell resides in Holley, and is well known as one 
of the best stock-buyers in Western New York. This farm 
is largely devoted, in the winter-time, to the storing of 
sheep, by Farwell, who fats them for foreign markets. 
George Farwell moved into Chili, Monroe county, years 
ago, and is still living, in the eighties, highly respected. 



BROCKPORT ROAD. 107 

Eastward, at Natville, different families had their homes, 
and Lines Lee, the old stone-mason, can be seen, through 
memory's glass, with his hammer and trowel, looking over 
his chalk-line, or, with his old friend, Billy Knowles, en- 
joying a drop, in the days of "auld lang syne." But the 
glass is broken, the hammer and trowel vanished, and these 
two old cronies have laid down their heads in a bed of 
gravel which they could not mortar. 

Wm. B. Fincher and his son, Samuel, moved about here 
for a time, and the Hebeliion heard the mighty tread of 
Sam's pedals, and he may now be seen wearing war's colors 
upon his manly breast. 

Where Daniel Smedes, on the Smedes road, smokes his 
pipe in peace, Anson Bennett, bearing the Christian name 
of the great English admiral, lived for many years, and 
then journeyed away to Meadville, in Pennsylvania. The 
Smedes' house is very old, and was built by Bennett to stand 
a cyclone. John Angus once lived here, but he has gone 
down into the Mohawk valley, preferring the scenes of his 
youth to the delights of Clarendon. 

To the south of Smedes, back in the field, and west, is 
an old tenant-house, now deserted, where Luman Fincher 
once lived. This house was blown entirely down, when 
building, by a fearful gale, in December, 1865, and was re- 
built as at present. An orchard is at this point, also one 
to the south, above the bridge. Above this deserted house 
the land rises to an elevation that commands a fine view of 
Clarendon and Tonawanda swamp to the westward, Wyo- 
ming hills to the south, Sweden to the eastward. Lake Onta- 
rio to the north — a circle of some fifty miles. The Smedes 
road was cut through during the first of the Rebellion, as 
a short route from the Glidden and Cowles road north to 
the Brockport road, and thence, by the Bartlett road, to 
Holley, and it is to-day largely patronized, not only by the 
residents of Clarendon, but those farther south. 



108 HISTORY OF CLARENDOX. 

The Bartlett road, which leads due north, passes without 
a house until we reach the fine residence of John E. Bartlett, 
who has certainly done more to beautify his possessions 
since his first occupancy than any other man in town. At 
this spot, at one time, were fifty acres of wild blackberries, 
and one may now see fine orchards and beautiful avenues 
of maples in front of one of the best farm-houses in Clar- 
endon, and everything about this farm betokening the very 
best of management. Jared Bigelow at one time held 
these lands, and made stone jugs fnom one shilling and six- 
pence to two shillings apiece. He planted the orchard, and 
said ^' that he wished to leave the world as good as he found 
it." Above the Bartlett mansion the land rises in the or- 
chard, and a fine view may be had of the surrounding 
country. Out from the old yard where Billy Downs for 
many years drove stock to the market Baldwin Hill once 
had his home, until he was at last covered by a small hill 
of Mother Earth. William Downs, the drover, was well 
known to all persons, not only on this road, but also 
throughout Clarendon, but the prices of beeves and other 
stock at Albany and Detroit no longer trouble his brain, 
unless the spirit hovers over the same memories as when in 
this fleshly casket. He was a good man, always ready to 
give one a welcome, and he will be remembered as long as 
these tablets hold recollection. 

Across the way, where now the large brick house and fine 
out-buildings of John Downs meet the view, once dwelt 
Jared Bigelow. The brick portion was put up by Loami 
Clark many years ago, and Thomas Glidden, on the Matson 
road, assisted in clearing a portion of this land when a 
young man. Charles Olmsted has for some time been the 
tenant here, and the land is in a good state of cultivation. 
The owner, John Downs, is at present one of the man- 
agers of the Holley Exchange Bank. When he was a lad 
he attended school at the " Corners," and was one of the 



BROCKPORT ROAD. 109 

scholars of Cynthia A. Copehmd. He is now also the 
owner of the Mansion House at Holley, having a fine resi- 
dence in town, and the first fire company bears his name. 
If the village of Holley had a city charter. Downs would 
be the mayor at once. From a driver of stock for his 
father, William Downs, he has become wealthy in the 
trade, and can now handle large quantities of wool or 
grain. 

Charles A. Bennett and George Clapp had at one time 
their earthly tabernacles where Eugene Warren may be 
found, when not occupied; his saw and hammer at the 
call of any builder. Warren has erected some of the best 
barns in town, and his judgment and taste are up to all 
modern improvements. Formerly Henry Hill lived on the 
western portion of the lands lately owned by Nathan 0. 
Warren, and from this fact these corners were called the 
Hill, afterwards the Bennett, from Gilbert K. Bennett, 
who had a store at this point, which was burned 
down, in 1846, when Frank King was clerk. Henry Hill 
was town supervisor in 1828, and was considered a very 
worthy citizen, and the old orchard was planted by him. 
Gideon Chapin lived in this orchard in 1828. Gilbert K. 
Bennett afterwards occupied these premises, planted the 
large shade-trees, and built the residence which Nathan 0. 
Warren held at his decease; and Daniel F. St. John was 
the architect, in 1846. 

Across the way stood an old frame school-house, which 
Nathan 0. Warren moved back into the orchard, and the 
present one was erected by Gilbert K. Bennett, in 1848, and 
cost nearly $500. 

Orwell Bennett had a residence to the south, and at first 
he blew the bellows in a frame smithy, and afterwards in 
the stone one which he built, which is now torn down and 
its cinders and ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven, 
William B. Fincher also shod horses here, and manv would 



110 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

€ome for miles, in 1828 and 1830, to have him drive the 
nails. Here Burgess hammered on his anvil, when he was 
not hammering close-oomm union ideas into the brains of 
his auditors. These smithies sent their labors into the 
households all around, as the stores only furnished, in these 
primitive days, a small supply of hardware, and the smiths 
were obliged to hammer out by hand what is now done by 
fine machinery, backed by the power of steam. Shov- 
els and tongs for the fireplace, hoes, rakes and hammers, 
— all these their brawny arms pounded out. Coal-pits 
of charcoal were burned in the Fincher garden, and 
opposite the Farwell place, for these shops. 

Stephen Warren took up a lot of one hundred acres 
opposite the school-house, and afterwards sold one-half of 
this to John French, who was the father of Aaron, who 
now casts his Democratic ballot in Cortland county. The 
Josiah Clark house, which stands away from the road to 
the south, was once the residence of Benjamin Thomas, 
one of the first pioneers, and who built the stone part about 
1820; a very convenient way to dispose of Clarendon rocks. 
John French raised the large barn -like structure for his 
domicile, in 1838 ; and, thanks to Willis Warren, it has at 
last received a coat or more of paint, which must have 
astonished the siding, to say nothing of the surprise pro- 
duced in the mind of the public. Beyond John French, 
Elizur Warren, a noted justice of the peace, and father of 
Nathan 0., had a whole lot of one hundred acres. He 
raised at first a log-house, and with his brother David, had 
a brick-kiln on his possessions, burnt the brick, and in 
1828 put up the brick mansion in which now George Eod- 
well peacefully lives. The well of the old double log-house 
of Warren's is now under the center of the brick one, and the 
water originally was hoisted by a sweep, before pumps came 
into use. During rain-storms, the mother of Nathan 0. 
would catch the water in a log trough, back and under the 



BKOCKPORT ROAD. Ill 

eaves of the house, long before the women imagined a mor- 
tared cistern. 

The stone walls in the neighborhood were laid without 
sticks, by Ternple, who wore no hat in the summer, and 
who also dug and stoned wells before the drill days, expos- 
ing his bald head to the hottest rays of old Sol without 
flinching. 

In 1822, Elizur Warren took his wife and Nathan in a 
wagon back to old Connecticut, and returned in the same 
manner, which was considered a very remarkable trip in 
those corduroy days. Elizur Warren and John French 
each built barns, having the timber sawn in David Storm's 
mill, where Strojan now lives, and Laban Green was one 
of the sawyers. The shingles were sawn and split, and on 
one barn made wholly from one hemlock tree, that had its 
roots where now this barn stands. 

The old orchard, on the John French place, was set out 
by Stephen Warren. The evergreens, at Nathan 0. War- 
ren's, he planted, and are to-day a beautiful sight ; and the 
large barns were built by his son Eugene. In 1821 Ches- 
ter Brace lived to the eastward of Elizur Warren's. 

Nathan 0. Warren passed away in 1887, one of the ster- 
ling citizens of Clarendon, and to whom the author is 
chiefly indebted for his history of this road. As we pass 
the Elizur Warren homestead, we come to an old wood- 
oolored building, where Alvah Grennell, brother to John S. 
Grennell, one of the early millers of Clarendon, resided. 
Just beyond Grennell's, E.^ L. Williams took up two lots, 
which extended east to the Williams road, leading to the 
south, to join the Glidden road from the west. Williams 
was a large raw-boned man, who would fight a law-suit to 
the bitter end. His wife, after doing her household 
work, would go into the fields and assist her husband in 
hoeing corn among the stumps, burning brush, sowing 
wheat, besides doing the spinning and knitting for a very 



112 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

large family. Their son, Samuel, has in his possession a 
pewter set of dishes, which are very weighty and solid, of 
the old stamp, and a wedding-shawl, worn by one of the 
grandmothers over a hundred years ago. Temple built 
beyond Williams' ; and Augustus Sturges, the father of 
David Sturges, in 1821 occupied a portion of the Williams' 
property. 

Dan Polly, in 1806, married Abigail Bennett, and, after a 
sojourn for some time under the log roof, put up the frame 
structure known as the Polly Tavern, in 1824. Who has 
not heard of this noted place among the old residents ? 
The traveler came to this inn on the Fourth Section road 
and ever found that warm welcome of which Shenstone 
sings. Here, in the winter season, was the grand old fire- 
place, large enough to make all comfortable with its cheer- 
ing heat; sending up its light in the gloomy night with 
a glow that no language can describe. To the hungry the 
best of roast beef, in tin ovens, buckwheat cakes as fine as 
Elsie could make, bread which her good mother had 
kneaded out of flour which knew Rochester as the flour 
village, roast pigs, from the farm, that would tempt a Jew 
or Musselman, and, if one was dry, call on Dan, and he 
would furnish the best liquor that Sturges could afford, 
with the richest of cider from Clarkson. The old tavern 
has pulled down its sign, old faces liave gone, old guests 
have departed, and we have the feeling of sadness come 
over us in passing this fast-decaying house, which is the 
reminder of former days. The Polly Tavern, in 1887, 
had an old clock, over fifty years of age, which cost twenty- 
five dollars. 

The first house to the north of Nathan 0. AVarren's was 
James Burns', and beyond him South combe could be seen. 
In 1849, Ferrin Speer made his residence here, where 
James Allis, the chicken fancier, once mogged about. The 
land was for a long time held by a company of speculators, 



BROCKPORT ROAD. H^ 



hoping thereby to fleece some poor wight. Judge Holmes, 
of Brockport, was the fortunate individual who persuaded 
Allis to stick his stakes here, and the Farmer's Cluh,^ of 
Western New York, had once an opportunity of inspecting 
his purchase before he crossed the river with Charon. Alhs 
was so very lucky that he sold twenty acres of his land to 
the Gorman and Slack Company for the large sum of six 
thousand dollars for a quarry, but he was only allowed a 
short lease of his days after this sale. 

This road which we have named the Bennett's Corners, 
had at one time logways the greater portion of the dis- 
tance north through town, but is now in fine condition, 
and has much travel to and from Holley. One is daily 
struck by the immense business which is carried on at the 
Gorman quarry, which is connected by a switch with the 
New York Central Fxailroad tracks. To the east may be 
seen the O'Brien quarry, which has been opened for some 
years, and furnishes every year a vast quantity of paving 
and building-stone, of the Medina sandstone quality, which 
is shipped all over the United States, as demand requires. 
These quarries employ many workmen from Yorkshire. 
England, and some of these spend their winters in their 
native clime, returning in the spring when the season 
begins. Perhaps there is no better sandstone than this of 
Clarendon, and she has reason to be proud of this rocky 
treasure, which really underlies a large portion of her sur- 
face if only brought to view. The time may come when 
from Clarendon village to Holley, all along the line of 
Sandy Creek, one vast line of quarries will be heard giving 
forth their hammer-music. 

The Butterfield road leads from Bennett's Corners south 
to join the Glidden road. The first house on this corner 
was built by William B. Fincher, in 1831, and was one of 
the first frame buildings in this section, and is in excel- 
lent condition, where his widow and son Luman still 



114 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

reside. A short distance to the south Ralzmau Thomas 
took up the land, and early in the twenty s John Millard 
and Alfred, his son, had a log home, before they moved 
on the Millard road, south of the Christian church. Silas 
Wadsworth, the father of Harmon Wadsworth, came on to 
these lands in 1826. Harmon, his son, has erected some 
of the finest buildings to be found in any portion of Clar- 
endon, and his farm is one that the owner and all citizens 
have reason to be proud of. Beyond is a lake-stone house, 
where Orson Butterfield lately resided, and this road is 
honored with his name. The material for building was 
brought from the shores of Lake Ontario, in 1849, and 
these stones were nicely joined by Thompson & Steele, the 
•cut-stone all hammered out by D. R. Bartlett, the stone- 
cutter of Clarendon. This is the only lake-stone house in 
town, and presents a fine appearance at this day. The 
wood-work of the house was fashioned by D. F. St. John, 
of Clarendon. 

Colonel Butterfield's lot included one hundred acres, and 
he bought out Levi Cooley in 1830. This road was cut 
through to Josiah Howard's in 1820, and the colonel 
cleared his own lands mostly. In 1852, the colonel had 
the gold fever, and went to California, and was in Virginia 
City and Oregon, and absent from Clarendon sixteen years. 
The colonel was born in 1808, and was married in 1833, 
and in 1887 took his farewell sleep in old Clarendon. The 
orchard here was set out over sixty years ago, and the first 
barns were shingled at the same time, while the new barns 
built by his son Pratt, of Chicago, of which we have 
spoken, are the admiration of all. Colonel Butterfield was 
universally respected; a man who did his own thinking, 
full of wit and anecdote, and one who lived in this world 
not as a clam, but as a bird of observation and travel. The 
Butterfield road has no one to supply his place, and death 
is on the gate-posts sadly sitting as we pass by. A beauti- 



BROCKPORT ROAD. 115 

fill grove of maples may be seen to the eastward, all of 
second growth, which had spread out their rich foliage 
under the eye of the colonel since 1830, and now they can 
grow silently upwards while his body is absent. 

John Nelson, the father of John and James Nelson, 
came from Seneca county in the town of Ovid, in 1823 ; 
stopped at the Polly Tavern, then at Benjamin Thomas', 
and finally took up his abode on what is now known as the 
Joseph Pratt place. Before the advent of Nelson, Peter 
Drouns occupied the lands where now Calvin Tupper is a 
model farmer. Nelson bought out Dronns and put up his 
log-house in 1823. The first log-house on the south and 
•east was that of Harlow, the son of Oliver Phelps, and 
Daniel Hand the next neighbor. Hand was a private shoe- 
maker for the neighborhood in those early days, and his 
dear wife had twenty-one black cats, and each one of them 
had a particular name ; and this good Scotch dame would 
keep no other colored puss. If cats are to be found on the 
other shore, she will have a goodly number in her train. 
Griffin Paddock, Avho lived to the east and south, went to 
Lansing, Michigan, and became a probate judge there. 
John Nelson was offered 160 acres, in 1816, at Lansing for 
the small sum of $600 ; John and Abram Nelson cleared up 
the west portion of the Pratt farm, while Drouns cleared 
other portions. Burrough Holmes lived in a log-house 
where Paddock purchased, and William West was just north 
of Wadsworth in the beginning. Joseph Bayard was at 
this time across from the old Jackson place, but whether 
he had any of the royal Delaware blood in his veins we 
<3annot say. 

Corduroy was the road-bed then, from the old school- 
house to the top of the hill, on the Butterfield road. If 
some of the present growlers, in their fine wagons and car- 
riages, could only be placed back to the Nelson days of 
corduroy, they would never again grumble over the present 



116 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

condition of this road, which is one of the best in Claren- 
don. 

Joseph Pratt, well known as Squire Pratt, bought some 
'of his land as low as $16 per acre ; and now the same 
■could not be bought for one hundred ; another portion of 
this farm cost only $9 per acre, in 1830 ; and Pratt was 
able to pay for this when wheat was $2 a bushel. Before 
the squire handled the plow he studied surveying with 
Elder Case, a Baptist minister in Sweden ; and from him 
purchased his compass and books. He was a very ambitious 
man, politically, and was very much pleased to be made 
chairman of political gatherings ; and loved to play croquet 
with the girls, and dance all alone in some corner of the 
ball-room, when he was over seventy years of age. His 
monument may be seen in the new Holley cemetery, 
erected by him before his death, at an expense of over one 
thousand dollars; a very sure way nowadays of perpetu- 
ating one's memory before as well as after one's decease, 
while the old individual has the funds in his or her posses- 
sion, and before the heirs become forgetful. Squire Pratt 
erected both of the fine houses on his property and the 
barns ; the house to the east twenty years ago, and the one 
to the west forty. Joseph Walker IngersoU, left Pratt's house 
when only sixteen, and went to New Bedford and took a 
cruise for three years on a whaler ; was in the Union army 
and was not heard from for fifteen years. He had the 
pleasure of being in Salsbury and Libby prisons, and of 
being wounded, and at last accounts was in the government 
employ at Washington. 

Colonel Butterfield and John Nelson saw Gray hung at 
Batavia, in 1831, and card-playing was going on during the 
execution, demonstrating that public hanging had but 
little reforming power over the multitude. 

The first piano that Colonel Darrow saw was at Mr. 
Peck's house near Clarkson Corners, in the town of 



BROCKPORT ROAD. H* 



Sweden. This was when Simeon B. Jewett was courting 
Peck's daughter, and doing all in his legal power to win 
her heart and hand; and about the time that the law firm 
became known as Jewett & Seldon, so well remembered m 
Western New York. 

The name of Edson Howard calls up many pleasant 
recollections. When we were young he lived to the north 
of Bennett's Corners, on what we have called the Warren 
road, which runs from the Bennett's Corners road into tlie 
County Line road, dividing Orleans from Monroe on the 
east, and Clarendon from Sweden. Howard's place was the 
best in town to get cherries, and the lads came from all 
quarters to pick the ox-hearts and black ones, of the 
choicest kinds. But the trees now have lost their fruitful- 
ness, and the place has changed since thirty years ago. 
Hart took up this land over seventy years ago, and a tine 
black-walnut tree is growing, the seeds of which he planted. 
Moody Davis, who occupied this land before Howard, was 
rightly named, and in one of his moody fits he cut the 
brittle thread of his life— and, we trust, has gone where 
loathed melancholy is unknown. One of Howard's boys, 
Sullivan, was sheriff in 1885 for Orleans; the second sheriff 
from Clarendon. Webster Howard is one of the chief 
workers in the republican ranks, and when he fails to ap- 
pear at town meeting or election, the good people may ask 
the undertaker Keyes or Millard of his whereabouts. 

The first road north of the Brockport road, and running 
parallel, we have named after Mortimer H. Taylor, as the 
Taylor road; and this leads from the County Ldne road on 
the east to the Bennett's Corners road to the west. From 
the County Line road, the Taylor road has as residents 
Taylor, Remember C. Dibble, Snell and Shay. Chauncey 
Gould was the first occupant of the Taylor property, and 
Taylor has resided here from 1849 until 1887, Avhen death 
knocked at his chamber door. There is a very fine view 



118 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

from the Taylor mansion, Avhicli is chiefly built of stone, 
and has large shade-trees standing in the front yard^ 
which must have been placed there when Gould was the- 
occupant. To the west of Taylor's, Remember C. Dibble 
now lives, where formerly Michael Spencer had his earthly 
abode; and just beyond, as one of his neighbors, Snell 
lives quietly, undisturbed by aught, save the sounds of 
peaceful labor. At the junction of this road with the 
Bennetts Corners, on the south, is the home of Mr. Shay, 
whose good lady, when living, was ever ready to give the 
author a cup of cold water, or anything else the house 
afforded, and wish him a happy time in his labors. This 
road is in good condition, but could be much improved if 
the residents would set out an avenue of maples on both 
sides, from the east to the west. The Taylor road has 
stone walls and wire fences, most of the way, and the farms 
are highly cultivated. The Warren road, which is to the 
north of the Taylor road, and alsa parallel, has its eastern 
terminus in the County Line road and its western in the 
Bennetts Corners road. On the northeastern corner of 
this road, Nathaniel Warren took up a whole lot of one 
hundred acres in 1818, and Leander, his son, has lived on 
this homestead some seventy years. Nathaniel Warren 
had one of the double log-houses of Clarendon, which were 
very rare, and here, before a school-house was built, Nich- 
olas E. Darrow came to Warren, as teacher, and he wrote 
for his benefit these words, " Nicholas E. Darrow, follow 
your plow and harrow!" which this pupil has done since 
he was a lad. Joseph Gardner and brother took up two 
lots over the way, where now Horace Pierce has his fine 
home with a beautiful hedge around the roadside. Lean- 
der Warren put out his orchard, which is one of the oldest 
in this section. The New York Central paid fourteen 
hundred dollars for the privilege of crossing the land at 
this point. To the west of Leander Warren's lives the 



BKOCKPORT EOAD. • 119 

widow of James Warren, in the house which was erected 
by David Warren over sixty years ago. Nathaniel and 
James put out the trees on the north side of the Warren 
road, the buttonwoods coming from the north woods. 
Moody Davis set out the maples on the Howard place, and 
Thomas Hood took up the land on which the O'Brien 
quarry is now located. 

Shephard Weller, who once lived and died on the Hood 
road, where now Jeremiah Harwick resides, was at one 
time on the Ely H. Cook place on the Warren road, and 
the house was built by Hurd, of Holley. Ely H. Cook has 
been on these lands since 1865, and was at one time a mer- 
chant in Holley. A continuation of the Warren road west 
to Curtis' Mills we have called the Waite road, after the 
jolly Jerry, who is the only resident. 

The County Line road, of which we have spoken, has 
rail and wire fences to the Taylor road from the Brockport 
road, and may be considered one of the best roads over 
which to travel, all the way to the Murray line, about forty 
rods north of the railroad bridge, beyond Leander War- 
ren's. Down by the stone bridge, near the north line of 
Clarendon, came Leander Hood in 1810, after walking the 
whole distance from Kensselaer county, and in the month 
of February crossing the Genesee river at Rochester on the 
ice, he took the Ridge road to Clarkson Corners, and then 
to the land which he occupied. Three times afterward 
he walked back to Rensselaer county, and returned on foot, 
and he often made trips to Batavia, where he went by 
marked trees through the wilderness, which he marked 
with his own hands, and the heavy timber and undergrowth 
made the journey very difficult. He took the money which 
he had received from selling black salts in the Town of 
Gaines, in this county, where was a pearl-ash factory, and 
then walk to Batavia, do his trading, and return the same 
day.^ 



120 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

The Holland Land Company's office was, at this time, 
located at Batavia, which was the county seat of this Gen- 
esee county before Orleans was carved out in 1825. The 
whole country from the stone bridge to Batavia, is now 
occupied by wealthy farmers, few of whom ever thought of 
the sufferings and privations of seventy years ago. On the 
Warren road are seven large and beautiful elms, but they 
have left no offspring near them. 

On the George Storms road, which leads from the Ben- 
netts Corners road to the west toward Curtis' Mill, George 
Storms, in 1863 and 1866, built two houses and planted a 
fine orchard. Storms came into Clarendon in 1818, and 
moved from the John Bartlett place to this point and built 
one house in 1820, and the other, in which his son resides, 
in 1828. He was his own carpenter on his houses and 
barns. His son has built on the south side one of the 
largest barns in Clarendon, and the view from the cupola 
is not surpassed in Western New York. In 1821 John 
Miller lived between the lands of Ely H. Cook and Edson 
Howard, and has departed we know not where. The Wil- 
liams road, from the Brockport to the Glidden road, lead- 
ing south parallel with the Butterfield road, has no resi- 
dents until we reach the summit of the hill. This territory 
was at one time mostly in the hands of the Williams', and 
is now occupied by Peter Lawler, John Lawler and Isaac 
Hall, with James Parmenter near the junction with the 
Glidden road. If one has a love for the beautiful in flow- 
ers, no better opportunity is afforded than is presented in 
the winter season by the fine display of geraniums from the 
windows of the Parmenter house. 

The improvements which Hall has made since his entry 
on his possessions are very marked, and the hawthorn hedge 
of John Lawler carries one back to Erin, from whence its 
settings came. This road should be shaded from one limit 
to the other. 



I 



BROCKPORT ROAD. 121 

Formerly East Clarendon did its trading at the village, 
but that day has gone never again to return. The coining 
of Newton and Garfield, as merchants, into Holley, with 
such buyers as Harwood and Smith, called the farmers of 
this section to that market, and Uncle Sam sends his mail 
for them to the same point. Of necessity on election days 
these good people visit the old stamping-ground of their 
fathers, and the rest of the year are comparative strangers. 

In some places beyond the '* Corners," the road fences 
have been taken away, giving a clear view to the residences. 
On the County Line road, the farmers have extirpated the 
weeds, and for this they are worthy of much praise. On 
the Brockport road, the houses generally are good, and 
only six are unpainted. The road is fine a portion of the 
way, but needs crushed stone and gravel. The stone walls 
and fences are generally very old, with only a few rods of 
wire to be seen. The farms are well worked, the soil 
mostly a gravelly loam, and the orchards have many years 
written on their barky faces. Stone walls may be seen 
seven-eighths of the way from Clarendon to the ^' Corners," 
on both sides of the road, and they decrease but little to 
the county line. This road could be made a boulevard of 
shade, if the inhabitants had a love for the beautiful, which 
countrymen seldom possess. 
6 



122 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTER VII. 

BYRON ROAD. 

THIS road leads from Clarendon south-east and south, 
until it reaches Byron. In the year 1815, April 21, 
Chauncey Eobinson made a partial survey of this road 
south from Clarendon village. Formerly this road led from 
Farwell's Mills, just below Church's Hill, to the south and 
east, and came out a little north of Adelbert Carr's house, 
south of Captain Stephen Martin's. The road of to-day 
avoids this portion of Church's woods, running from the 
foot of the hill south-east, until it makes a curve to the 
north of Church's old barn, and then in a southerly direc- 
tion beyond Orange Lawrence. The first house on this 
road, south of the village, is now the residence of Albert 
Church, on the east side, where William D. Dudley made 
his home when the country was new, and who left the two 
beautiful maples growing, which now shade the entrance. 
The old pioneers of 1815 and 1816, were in the habit of 
carrying grain in bags on their backs over the old road 
through Church's woods, just under the brow of the hill, 
to Eldredge Farwell's mill, before they were able to own 
even ox- teams, and when this road was but a pathway 
through the heavy timber. Above this range of hills 
wolves would howl on winter nights, and Horace Peck was 
at one time followed by a shaggy brute in the darkness, 
having only a stick to defend himself with. William D. 
Dudley owned the land where the dead have laid down 
their bodies, and his property embraced what is now known 
as the Church estate. 



BYRON ROAD. 123 

In our day there was a large growth of cedar in the 
swampy portion of this road ; and we well remember one 
fine acorn oak, on tlie east, near the present lumber-yard, 
which Avas ruthlessly cut down by Crazy Mac without 
leave or license. 

Originally, two mulberry trees stood near the graves, 
which were planted by Dudley ; but these have long since 
disappeared. On the Dudley place once livtd Valentine 
Lewis, who had the small-pox, which w^as brought into 
Clarendon by a strolling pack-peddler, and before this boy 
passed away, he begged his people to place him in a small 
puddle of Avater, which was then below the school-house 
hill, where now the lamp gives out its light for the Cope- 
land store. His request was denied, and the disease soon 
took its victim. 

Sarah Hattan, afterward wife of Oliver Jenks, and Gil- 
bert Cook were the first two cases of small-pox in town. 
When John Church was living, the boys had grand sport 
on the meadows in the winter-time with their skates, as 
the quantity of water was much greater than in later 
years. As one ascends a little rise in the highway to the 
east, over the fence, once stood a lone apple-tree, the seeds 
of w'hich w^ere planted there by Andrew, the brother of 
Thomas Glidden, over seventy years ago; but the trunk 
and leaves have alike disappeared, and given place to other 
crops. At this spot, about 1816, Jacob Glidden, the father 
of Thomas, had a small log shanty, which served to keep 
him out of the wet. One of the early loves of Colonel 
Lewis was seen at the twilight hour, just outside of the 
door, taking steps preparatory to a hop, which was to 
take place that evening upon the basswood floor. Once 
upon a time, at this dwelling, the Knowles boys and 
other neighboring lads, with their buxom lassies, were having 
a general breakdown, while Bishop, from the Milliken road, 
handled the bow. Above their heads the good dame had 



124 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

a squash-shell loaded with pumpkin seeds, which she was 
saving for the coming season. One of the Knowles espy- 
ing this, galloped high enough in the dance to bring his 
auburn hair in contact with this precious casket, and down 
it came on the bassw^ood floor, scattering the seeds in all 
directions. Girls and boys were soon on their knees pick- 
ing up the fallen, and Edward Stevens, who now lives in 
Nebraska, over seventy years of age, says that he never 
saw more sport than happened that night over the pump- 
kin-seed gathering. 

Beyond the present home of Orange Lawrence, Captain 
Stephen Martin had a log-siding, where, for many years* 
his son Dan lived, who sold out to Adelbert Carr, moved 
west into Dakota in his old age, and left his body in that 
prairie country. When pennies became dollars, the cap- 
tain built the frame-house now occupied by Orange Law- 
rence. He also built on the present site of Adelbert Carr 
the frame-house in which Mason Lewis now lives, in 
Clarendon, on Woodruff avenue, which was moved to its 
present site over thirty years ago by Philetus Bumpus. 
The captain drew a whole load of wheat to Rochester, 
twenty-five miles away, and only received enough money 
to buy the window-glass for this small house. One of his 
sons, Henry C. Martin, was a merchant for twenty years 
with George M. Copeland, at Clarendon, and may now be 
found at Oakfield, Genesee County, in the same business, 
as happy and genial as when he walked his native heath. 
The five maples on the west side of the highway were 
planted by Dan Martin, and are now admirable to look 
upon. 

The next occupant to the south, on the west side of the 
road, was originally Elisha Huntley, and afterward Jacob 
Glidden. James Curtis and Lucius B. Coy were also 
dwellers here when the author was a lad, and the property 
is now owned by Adelbert Carr. The shade-trees at this 



BYRON ROAD. 125 

place were set out by Lucius B. Coy, and when Jacob 
Glidden lived here the beautiful elm, which is the finest 
on this road, was only a few feet in height. Lucius B. 
Coy's name will be found among the list of Clarendon 
supervisors, but he took his departure for Michigan, and 
will probably take his final rest in the Wolverine State. 
When Joseph Sturges owned these premises, he engaged 
Jacob Glidden to cut off a piece of slashing, about three- 
fourths of an acre, to the north, and on this he raised 
twenty bushels of red chaff wheat. At this time there 
wei^ only five or six acres cleared east of the creek, and 
the country was all woods to Ca23tain Martins, The next 
house on the west side was occupied by Samuel Coy and 
his lady, and here they quietly closed their eyes upon 
Clarendon. Samuel Coy came onto this place in 1816, 
and built the present house, which is now owned by Oliver 
Allis, in 1825. The house at first was checked on the out- 
side with mortar, but this was taken off and the sides 
clapboarded. He was a noted barn-builder, and built the 
old ones of Stephen Martin, John Church and the one on 
the Lilikendie or Bartlett place. He set out his old 
orchard in 1817, and got the trees and seeds at Lima, in 
Livingston County. 

Martin Coy, who is now living at Holley, came here 
with his father seventy-two years ago. He did the clearing 
on the hill above the house, and lived here until old age 
informed him that he had better take a little rest from his 
plow and harrow. Oliver Allis, the present occupant of 
this place, is the only individual who was ever known to 
jump through a window in his sleep without arousing his 
senses to a wakeful condition. Peabody had a house on 
the opposite side to the north of the creek, and a tenant- 
dwelling sends its smoke into the air here. On the Abram 
Bartlett place, Daniel Green first moved about, and had a 
tannery near the creek, and remains of the bark may be 



126 HISTORY OF CLARENDON^. 

seen at this clay. This was also the home of David Glid- 
den long years ago, and it was his son Willard who was 
called the poet of Clarendon, in 1836. Daniel Green huilt 
the stone-house which Orson Tousley managed to seize 
upon, and we well remember when the letters 0. T. stood on 
the south side near the roof, which some wag said meant 
Old Testament, instead of Orson Tousley. If this old 
stone mansion could only talk and give its story of Lili- 
kendie and Orson, it would require a Webb press and 
Edson as reporter to note the yarns. Now, Abram Bart- 
lett is the possessor of those lands, and he has erected Ijfrge 
and elegant barns, besides overhauling and improving the 
old mansion, as only a first-class farmer could do with dis- 
position and means. 

When Chauncey Ford passed out for the last time, one 
Daniel Stedman had a log-house when the country was 
new. He was much troubled by the wife of Allen Blanch- 
ard coming over to his home from her cabin, to the east, 
at the hour of midnight, and telling her tale of woe, result- 
ing from a drunken husband abusing her deaf and dumb 
son. John Church, Samuel L. and Merrick Stevens, Orson 
Tousley and Horace Peck, after blackening their faces in a 
brush-fire, proceeded through the darkness to Blanchard's 
cabin. They rapped at the door, and Blan chard hesitated 
about opening, but his wife finally persuaded him, and in 
the lads rushed, seized him in his shirt, marched him over 
bull thistles up to his waist, back of Chauncey Kobinson's 
house, and, after making him promise that he would in 
the future act soberly toward his family, left him to shift 
for himself. 

An old orchard on the hillside to the west once held a 
log-house, where David Church, the father of Stephen and 
John, built his fires. David Church subsequently moved 
to the eastward, and built the large frame house at present 
in the hands of Abram Bartlett, and in this house he died 



BYRON ROAD. 127 

at the ripe age of 79. Henry Orannell built the Ford 
house ill 1852, and the Church mansion must bear date in 
the twenties. Wlien Stephen Church was born the highway 
passed by his father's door, and was changed before the 
frame house was erected. The old orchards here all breathe 
the names of Green, Clidden and Church, and, ere long, 
they, too, will have been cut down for firewood, becoming 
once more a portion of the elements, as their masters have 
before them. The farm just beyond, now occupied by 
Charles Tinsley, is owned by George M. Copeland, and was 
taken up by Levi Dudley. In 1821, and for years there- 
after, Anson Bunnell resided here and was succeeded by 
his widow. The old barn on the west side, now remodeled, 
was built in the Bunnell days, and the one to the east, on 
the top of the hill, was moved over from the east orchard, 
which has been laid low by the axe. Long years ago, in 
this old orchard, one Davis and Joe Blanchard had log 
shelters, and why they preferred to live thus away from 
the highway we cannot state, unless they wished, with the 
poet, for some lodge in the wilderness or boundless contig- 
uity of shade, where now only the earthy ruins of their 
former habitations may be seen. 

In 1816, Linus Peck, the father of Horace Peck, had his 
dwelling where now Kewton Orcutt drives the plow afield, 
and where, in our boyhood days, Philio slept inside of an 
old red frame building, whose architect must have been an 
odd character. Just over the hill, Luther, the brother of 
Horace Peck, was nearly scalped by a falling tree, and then 
and there swore that he would no longer cut trees down, 
but spend the remainder of his days with Chitty and 
Blackstone, learning how to cut down cases as well as men. 

Near the site of the Robinson school-house, Cyrus Coy, 
the father of Horace, looked out upon the stranger until 
he ascended the hill above, where he enjoyed life, until his 
decease, in a higher atmosphere; and he raised the plastered 



128 HISTORY OF CLARENDON, 

house, which is now converted into a hop-drier by Horace. 
Across the way from Cyrus Coy lived on the corner of the 
Byron and Coy roads John Dodge, who Avas not able to 
dodge old Death. He raised the low-roofed house where 
Owen McAllister now holds forth, and his body has long 
since returned to dust in the grave3^ard over the way. 
Fuller Coy, the brother of Cyrus, in comjDany with Horace 
Peck, killed a large bear in the woods just east of the spot 
where the boys and girls read their lessons. One of the 
oldest residents, Chauncey Robinson, as we have before 
stated, had his first home, where now his monument stands, 
in 1813. About sixty years ago he built a very large frame- 
house to the south, which was moved away by W. H. H. 
Goff to make room for his fine mansion, one of the best in 
town. The Robinson house was known to all the country 
round, and its walls have echoed to the tread of many foot- 
steps that keep step no longar on this side of the silent 
river. Farther to the south, where Giles Orcutt closed up 
life's book, one Hitchcock moved about, before a penny- 
royal doctor by the name of Seacoy boiled and compounded 
his herb remedies ; and from him the noted Joseph Walker 
of Byron gained his early knowledge of human complaints. 

On the old Simeon Howard place Joseph Dunbar lived 
for a time, and then and there his spirit took its flight, 
when his neck was fastened to a beam, which may serve to 
explain the reason why ; another poor mortal by the name 
of Howard tried the same remedy in the present house a 
few years ago ; which was built by Simeon's widow forty 
suns or more in the past. 

Where now Lemuel Merrill lives, anciently Nickerson 
dwelt, and in 1821 William Lewis, the first sheriff of Or- 
leans County, had a double log-house here. David Gleason 
in an early day owned the lands lately held by Horace Peck, 
and where now Marvin Fuller and lady greet their many 
friends. Elder Cass held title where Horace Peck pur- 



BYRON ROAD. 129 

chased, and the present frame house is the oldest on the 
road, and was repainted by Marvin Fuller after a lapse of 
twenty-five years. The timbers for this house were framed 
in 1818, and the two oldest barns on this road are the Peck 
and Mrs. D. N. Pettengill's of very heavy timbers, which 
were scored by Linus Peck with an axe, he being one of 
the best of scorers in his day. 

An old apple-tree may be seen to the north of the Peck 
mansion, which sprang from the seed. Where the fish-pond 
is located, to the northwest of the house, Indians were in 
the habit of coming to hang their deer saddles, as there 
was at this place a very good spring of ever-flowing water. 
In 1815 or 1816, Captain Charles Lee put up a small shanty 
where Nathaniel Brackett, the veterinary surgeon, now 
resides. In a short time Joseph and Ezekiel Lee came to 
this spot, and Samuel L. Stevens was present at the raising; 
he at one corner notching, and Horace Peck at the other. 
The 'first pen-knife that Samuel L. Stevens owned was 
given to him at this time by Ezekiel Lee. 

These lands became in time the property of Valentine 
Tousley, the brother of Orson, sons of William Tousley, 
who lived on the Tousley road where now Henry Soles has 
possession. Valentine Tousley lived here in 1843, but at a 
game of ball caught cold, and was knocked out or caught 
out by the old gamester Death. Daniel Gleason, in 1815, 
had a log siding on the same grounds, where subsequently 
David Forbush sowed and reaped. The frame house here 
is one of the oldest-looking dwellings on this road, and was 
roofed by David King, the father of Fayette, who at one 
time was the hotel-keeper in Clarendon, and who moved 
into Michigan. 

Daniel Gleason, Joseph Barker and John Stevens were 
the first to cut a road through the woods from where the 
Kock school-house is located to Honest Hill, in 1813. 
When John Stevens took up the land where now Merrick 



13<> HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

and his grandson reside, in 1813, there was only a little 
clearing in what is now known as the orchard. Yonng 
Sam took his axe at twelve years of age, and was obliged 
to cut browsing for the cattle from the trees, there being 
no grass to feed upon at this time. The old orchard-trees 
were taken from Eldredge Farwell's nursery in the village, 
and the large poplars on the highway were set out by young 
Samuel. The stone for the Stevens, Colonel Lewis and 
Colonel Rice houses was taken from a quarry located in one 
of the pasture-lots of the Stevens homestead, to the north 
and east of the house. 

Horace Peck informed the author that he believed if the 
New Testament had been destroj^ed, his mother could have 
repeated the same from memory. 

The fine maple-trees in front of John Stevens' were set 
out by him in 1863, and attract the attention of all lovers 
of the beautiful in shade. The old wall-layer of this sec- 
tion was Murphy, and he must have been a good one, if we 
judge his Avork by the hammer of Time. 

Colonel Shubael Lewis, for a short time after he was 
'married, lived in the log home of John Stevens, and in 1818 
raised his own roof where now Thomas Butcher moves 
gently down the hill of life. About sixty years ago the 
frame part was added to the log, and the stone walls were 
raised shortly after the Stevens mansion. For many years 
travelers found accommodations at this house, and Colonel 
Lewis, William Sheldon and Horace Peck were landlords. 
But the fires for guests have been extinguished, and now 
the neighbors can meet during the long winter evenings 
and play their games where once the stranger made his 
home. The old colonel no longer takes out his massive 
gold watch, and, as he holds it up to view, gives one of his 
peculiar grunts to attract the attention of all ; and his 
fine horse and elegant carriage no more may be seen on 
this road, and we leave him to travel in another country. 



BYRON ROAD. 131 

Just across from the Cook school-house, where the 
Stevens road leads to the westward, in 1821, lived honest 
John Nichols, where George Thomas can behold lands upon 
which he has toiled from early morn until night. This 
territory at one time belonged to the old grandfather, 
Lemuel Cook, whom, it is said, deeded it to his son Lemuel 
to avoid the payment of taxes, and his son would not 
return the title. Honest Hill is perhaps one of the most 
celebrated spots in Clarendon, and if the air could whisper 
its secrets we should have material for a large volume. At 
the blacksmith-shop of George D. Cramers, which was built 
in 1865, this section of the town have much of their work 
done, and many years ago Sol. Woodard, the noted worker, 
hammered out here the very best of implements, and his 
wagon tires are good even to this day. The fine location 
of Kathan R. Merrill was formerly the stamping-ground of 
Ezekiel Lee, who moved to Nauvoo, and became a Mormon. 
Aaron Smith had his dwelling-place where Frederick 
Dezetter smiles upon all who love his appearing, and he 
has greatly improved his place. His lands extend along the 
Root road, which leads to the east, and for some distance 
on the Byron road to the south. 

Over the way, Elam T. Andrus has for many years 
labored, until, at the age of eighty-two, he begins to think 
of different work in some other region. He has been one 
of the largest hop-growers on this road, and, with Horace 
Peck, has sent many bales to the market since 1867. The 
mother of this home has gone to the beautiful land, but 
her love for the needy and her kindness to all will be re- 
membered, not only on earth, but in heaven. Her doors 
were ever wide open to the author, and there is one vacant 
chair here that cannot again be filled. No finer orchards 
are to be found in Clarendon than the Andrus', and their 
fruit commands the highest prices. The original occupant 
of these premises was Rodgers, and in 1821, when his name 



132 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

was on the highway roll, his axe could be heard from the 
break of day in the deep forest. 

When Colonel ilubbard Rice took up his lands (where 
William Bird now rules), in 1825, Rodgers and Smith had 
only ten acres cleared on each side of this road. Daniel 
Keyes lived to the north ; and south, was Van Deusen on 
the east, and Hughes on the west. Horace Peck gave 
fifteen days labor for the purpose of building a corduroy 
road near the colonel's, and even this day one may strike 
his boot or shoe against some of the pieces. In 1825, 
Colonel Rice had only one acre of wheat on his territory. 
The same year Nicholas E. and Lewis Darrow were given 
fifty dollars for clearing twelve acres of this land. The 
coffin in which William Lewis was buried was made in 
Colonel Lewis' house. 

In 1813, the only house between John Stevens' and the 
" Mills" was Elisha Huntley's, on the Adelbert Carr farm. 
Samuel L. Stevens had in his possession a hammer and 
tonofs which Sol. Woodard hammered out while at Honest 
Hill. In 1817, Horace Peck and John Church walked by 
marked trees through the woods to the home of William 
Tousley, on the Tousley road. In 1814, Samuel L. Stevens 
rode on a crotch, made out of timber, from the Tommy 
Benton place to Farwell's Mills, and must have had a fine 
time, before even a path was cut through. In the same 
year, the only horses that Stevens knew of in the country 
was one owned by Eldredge Far well, at the •' Mills," and 
one at Muttonville. In 1840, twenty spans of horses were 
hitched together, and the people generally went from 
Honest Hill to hear Doolittle, who afterward became 
senator from Wisconsin. In 1816, Horace Peck drove 
cattle, sheep and horses through Batavia to Buffalo on the 
old road, for which he received four dollars. He returned 
to Le Roy and inquired the way to Farwell's Mills, and 
was told to take the Lake road to the Fourth Section or 



BYRON ROAD. 138 

Brockporfc road, where the old brick tavern stood, just 
south of Brockport, and thence west by the Polly Tavern 
to the '^ Mills." He was then about fourteen years of age, 
and, fearful of night, wolves and bears, made the trip, as he 
states, in five hours, running a large portion of the way. 
He had as lunch a few crackers and a glass of cider, which 
he purchased at the old Lake Tavern. When he reached 
Judge Eldredge Farwell's inn, at the " Mills," Mrs. Far- 
well sent her daughter, Mary Ann, to escort him through 
the woods to Leonard Foster's, on the William H. Cooper 
place on the Hulberton road. 

Jonas H. Peabody, who lived, as we have written, on the 
land which A. Bartlett owns, north of the creek, was a 
cooper by trade, and Horace Peck had in use one of his 
pounding-barrels, which was over forty years old, a good 
illustration of the material this cooper used and also of his 
workmanship. Valentine Tousley, when a lad, saw a bear 
in the corn-field having a good time eating his father's 
corn. He ran into the log-house, took down the gun, 
which was loaded with buckshot, walked boldly up to 
Bruin, and sent the whole charge in the breast of the 
animal. William Tousley, hearing the shot, went out and 
found his son Valentine on the ground, where the gun had 
kicked him, with the dead bear very near by. Of course 
the parent informed the young lad what would have been 
the consequences if he had missed this corn-stealer of the 
forest. At one school-meeting in the Cook district, when 
Ace Matson was present, and being hated by Lemuel Cook, 
he privately desired Orson Tousley to remove him. Orson 
took Ace down behind the desks, and, while he was en- 
gaged in choking him with all his might, cried out, "Now, 
don't you touch me ! I don't want to fight you !" and at 
the same time poor Ace was nearly dead from strangulation. 

The Byron road i^ wide enough to have maple trees from 
Clarendon village to the Byron line, without any injury to 



134 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the highway, and would, in the summer, not only afford 
good shade, but also in the winter serve to protect the pub- 
lic from the cold blasts which sweep from the west. The 
fences along this road are mostly of stone and rail, and 
Warren Millard has laid many rods along the highway and 
in the fields, a very convenient way to dispose of the stones 
and rocks ; but the time will come when the old crooked 
rail fence will give way to wire, or some other material, 
that will allow the snow to pass over into the fields, instead 
of choking the passage. Crushed stone could also be used 
on this, as well as any other road in Clarendon, giving at 
all times a durable track, which in time would be a large 
saving of labor and means. 

The Byron road on the east is joined by the Matson road, 
which leads nearly east to the south of the present home of 
Adelbert Carr, until it unites with the Smedes road, as it 
leads toward Holley, or diverges to join the Cowles road to 
the south, and the Glidden road to the east. 

In 1814 Simeon Glidden and David Matson, Sen., came 
to Eldredge Farwell's house, at the ^' Mills," in the spring, 
and asked the judge if he knew of any vacant lots. He 
took them over to the Matson road, and after they had 
looked over this territory, they sat down on a log in the 
wilderness, and the judge said : ^' Well, gentlemen, what do 
you say as to the lots ?" Glidden said : " I will leave it to 
you to say, Matson, which you will take, — the east, or the 
west." Matson replied: "No; I will leave it to you." 
" Then," said Glidden, " I will take the west lot." '^ And 
I," answered Matson, '' will take the east." 

The next year, in the fall, David Matson, Sen., and his 
family, five in one wagon, crossed the creek below Captain 
Martin's, and cut his way through the woods to where 
David Matson, his son, still lives. The wagon stuck in the 
mud of the creek, and young David aAd the other children 
turned out and spent some time in picking up beech-nuts, 



BYRON ROAD. 135 

while the father was hauling out of the mire. The first 
shanty had been put up the )^ear before, in readiness for the 
family. Matson took up two lots on both sides of the road, 
and Simeon Glidden had the same quantity on either side 
to the west. Jacob Glidden had one lot some time after- 
wards, just east of Matson. 

The first log-house of 1814 was raised where the David 
Matson barns are now located, and the log-barns were then 
to the west of the house, but soon changed to the east. 
The oxen drew the back-logs into the first shanty, and for 
a time the fire was on the ground. Matson sold his horses 
which he brought into the country, and bought oxen, hav- 
ing no use for them in the forest. Matson and his son David 
assisted in building the first logway to the Byron road, 
with stone and dirt as chinking between the logs. 

David Matson and his family lived in this shanty nearly 
fifteen years, and the mother would hang up a quilt for a 
door in the winter, while a stick would be placed at the 
bottom at night, so that the wolves could not enter. When 
David and his sister Julia were quite young, they saw a 
large black-snake outside of the shanty, and he thought it 
fine sport to play with the reptile; but the mother, on 
beholding their fun, ran out of the house, dispatched the 
serpent, and gave it a toss into the fire-place. A short 
time afterwards, another large black-snake was killed un- 
der Simeon Glidden's rocking-chair, supposed to be its 
mate, as they generally have enough of love to look after 
their own. 

David Matson was in the custom of going to Batavia by 
marked trees, to get his flour. One night the children 
went to bed supperless, the father having been lost in the 
woods, with a large bear howling at his presence. When 
the father came, the good mother awoke the children, and 
made them some short-cake, which was as good as a feast 
nowadays. Five of the original pear-trees on this place 



136 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

sprang from seeds which the mother brought from their 
old home in Vermont ; and the peach-trees were from 
peach-stones on the Ridge road near the county line. Mat- 
son set out his west apple-orchard, and Simeon Glidden the 
old orchard on his lot ; the trees of which may be seen to 
this day. 

Matson brought two splint chairs from Vermont, and 
his first bedsteads were like saw-horses. The floor of the 
log-house was of basswood, split open, and the roof was of 
elm bark. David remembers, when a lad, of the snow sift- 
ing through the roof upon his face and the bed-clothes; 
which would be an eye-opener, and mouth-opener, to the 
snug and delicate children of 1888. 

In 1829 David was sent by his father over to Portage, on 
the Genesee River, to get lumber to build their house. He 
drew three loads, taking him three days each time, the dis- 
tance being nearly forty miles ; and it was said that it took 
ten acres of heavy timber to build the Portage bridge, in 
which any one piece could be removed, and another inserted. 
Matson and his sons, David and A.sahel, did the principal 
clearing on this territory. David and Thomas Glidden saw 
Governor DeWitt Clinton when he passed through Holley, 
after the completion of the Erie canal, in 1825, and listened 
to his address. 

In those days pigeons darkened the air, and the black- 
squirrels ate up nearly six acres of wheat for Simeon Glid- 
den. Orwell Bennett's father shot nineteen black-squirrels 
from one tree. A blaok-squirrel is a rare sight in Claren- 
don now, and the pigeons have ceased to "coo" in the 
wildwood. Matson exchanged a cow for some sheep, the 
first on the premises, and all the sheets and clothes for the 
family, for some time, were made by David's mother, which 
fact alone demonstrates that she had no time to gad, or 
hours to spend in neighborhood gossip and scandal. 

Betsey Glidden, the sister of Thomas Glidden, became a 



BYRON ROAD. 



137 



tailoress, and would go from house to house, when requested. 
The first suit of clothes that David had cut away from 
home, was cut by Harley Hood's first wife, on the lands 
now owned by Jeremiah Harwick, on the Hood road. 

Matson made his own lasts, and all the shoes for the fam- 
ily ; and this would have kept him very busy if he had 
made the soles of paper, one of the modern inventions. 
As it was, Matson chopped in the woods all day, and sat up 
until eleven at night, as Abraham Lincoln said, ''pegging 
away." The mother brought a tin baker from the Green- 
Mountain State, and the potatoes were roasted in the ashes, 
one of the old fashions, much preferable to the new. 
Beans were baked in a kettle in the fire-place — covered with 
hot ashes — during the night, and must have been almost 
equal to the Boston brick- baked. 

There was a wigwam, with Indians, near the willow, over 
the creek, and they brought Matson's family venison and 
bear's-meat, instead of scalping-knives. The busy beavers 
at one time had a dam near the willow, and this lot has 
been called, since, the Beaver meadow, and the first hay 
was cut on this land after hauling out the oak logs which 
the beavers had placed in their dam. 'I'hey had been 
hunted out by the Indians, and they, in turn, had been 
hunted out by the white man. Matson would make, some 
seasons, as high as eleven hundred pounds of maple-sugar, 
and a large portion would be used in the family, in the 
place of other sugar. Barrels of pigeons would be salted, 
and the stool-pigeon, with the net, was used in our boy- 
hood days. 

David was twenty years of age when he began to teach 
school, and held four terms, at Bennett's Corners, Wheat- 
land, Manning and Sweden Center. At Bennett's Corners, 
as scholars, John and James Nelson, Harmon Wadsworth and 
sister, Clarissa Howard and Stephen Howard, Luman and 
Samuel Fincher. At the brick school-house, at Manning, 



138 HISTORY OF CLARENDON, 

Alfred Millard and sister, Isaac Bennett, John Brackett, 
Betsey Brackett, David N. and T. E. G. Pettengill, and 
Mary Jane Annis. At Svveden Center he had eighty-five 
scholars — thirty-two men and women grown. Debating 
schools were held at the Cowles' school-house, and a con- 
gress, also. The doctrine of eternal punishment was de- 
cided against; Jason Sheldon and Charles T. Cowles as 
judges. 

David Matson had a stationary threshing-machine in his 
barn, and a flash of lightning burnt this, with forty tons 
of hay and a load of wheat. In those days wheat woukl 
not be cut before the 15th of August. 

David cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, in the 
frame school-house in the village, and was challenged, but, 
through the advice of B. G. Pettengill, the challenge was 
withdrawn. There was, at this time, but one polling-place 
in town ; and David has voted, yearly, the Democratic 
ticket, turning neither to the right hand nor the left. 

Matson at first traded with Saddler and Seymour, at Brock- 
port, and he had the first threshing-machine in this local- 
ity. The threshing was done with one yoke of oxen, the 
neighbors assisting, the cylinder on poles, the wheat and 
chaflf falling below, unseparated, and he used no separator 
until many years after. The old machine would thresh 
about 100 bushels in a day, whereas, George Cook, with his 
steam thresher, can roll out 1,000 bushels in the same time, 
with no oxen or horses, and the black diamonds giving the 
necessary power with a perfect motion. Wheat would 
often reach forty bushels to the acre, and Matson sold some 
of his crops as low as three shillings a bushel, which would 
set the farmers crazy now, and less style would be aped at. 

In 1814, when Matson came through Rochester, it had a 
population such as Clarendon has at j^resent, and the con- 
trast now is worthy of thought. When the great snow- 
storm of May, 1834, came, Matson had wheat up nearly 



BYRON ROAD. 



139 



eighteen inches, which was covered, and the peach-trees, 
with blossoms, were loaded with the beautiful snow. He 
thought the wheat ruined, but a warm sun and genial days 
soon made the month to blossom as gay as ever. The fam- 
ily used burnt beans for coffee in an early day, and raised 
in the garden the coffee-bean, and burnt bread was used as 
a substitute. The Matson family had Benjamin Bussey as 
their first physician, and this may explain why David Mat- 
son did not leave this earth before he was 98, and his good 
wife 87, while the living David would walk into 1900 if the 
rheumatism would only say " good-by " to his system. This 
is one of the best farms in Orleans County, and the hay 
crop alone has been a fortune. 

Simeon Glidden, Sr., came on to the old homestead now 
occupied by William Hines, as we have stated, in 1814, as 
a looker-over, and with his family soon after, where he 
lived until he closed up his earth-book. His house was of 
the rude, log pattern, and stood where now the mansion of 
William Hines opens up its doors and windows with the 
first blush of morning, and just to the eastward from Sim- 
eon Glidden, his grandson, who is still walking as straight 
as ever, and in his name not only perpetuating his grand- 
father's, but also his own father's cognomen. 

Simeon Glidden, Jr., and wife at first lived in a log- 
house near the southwest corner of the present yard of 
their son Simeon, where a few apple-trees may be seen that 
speak of some seventy years ago. Osmer and Clark were 
born in this house. The present frame-house was built by 
Simeon Glidden, Jr., in 1835, and Orrin Packard and 
Leonard Nay worked for eighteen dollars per month on 
this house, which will give some idea of wages in Claren- 
don at that day. The masons were Prindle and Oliver 
Harper. Glidden built a kiln to dry his lumber, which 
came from Portage. This house cost fourteen hundred 
dollars, and all the work was done by hand, and, with the 



140 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

one lately occupied by William S. Glidden, on the West 
Glidden road, were considered the best houses in town. 

Lucy, the wife of Simeon Glidden, had a codfish-hook, 
which her father had used on the banks of Newfoundland, 
to hang her turkeys and pigs on before the fire-place, when 
roasting, and this may be seen even now. There is still on 
this farm one rail-fence, which Simeon Glidden split when 
he was only twenty-one years of age. 

In 1818, Simeon Glidden, Sr., had not one dollar in cash, 
and shoe-making accounts of only sixteen dollars. He was 
forced to go into debt for an axe and helve, and received 
for his accounts — barter. There was an ashery for black 
salts, built by Simeon and his son, to the north of the house. 
The mother was in the habit of burning corn-cobs in a 
bake-kettle, and using ashes with water to make short-cake. 
There was a brick oven in the frame-house of Simeon 
Glidden, Sr., in which Mrs. Glidden would bake once a 
week. Simeon Glidden, Sr., would get flour for himself 
and neighbors at Wheatland, and give his personal note for 
the same, as he knew that in those days men were honest 
enough to pay their debts, and not hide under wives' gowns. 
The deed for his property Simeon Glidden, Jr., received in 
1832, as the land was originally taken up by a contract 
with the Holland or Poultney companies. The floors in 
the frame-house of 1835 were of maple, and carpets had 
not then come into use in Clarendon. Aurin Glidden slept, 
when a younker, in a trundle-bed on wheels, made by Leon- 
ard Nay, painted red, which must have been a very fash- 
ionable color, as the author has a distinct recollection of a 
bed of the same character, which was run in and out under 
the bed of father and mother. 

Simeon Glidden, Jr., would score and make ox-sleds in 
his kitchen, which must have made Lucy's head ache terri- 
bly, if she had any of the nervous sensibility of Clarendon 
women of 1888. The roof of Simeon Glidden's log-house 



BYRON ROAD. 141 

was of basswood troughs, and after a heavy rain the water 
would be baled out of the kitchen, for in those days it 
poured. 

The old barns on the Hines place were built by Jotham 
Bellows and Samuel Coy, and the horse-barns by Winslow 
Sheldon. The frame-house had blinds, which were truly 
something new in Clarendon, made by hand, and the eave- 
troughs were all of pine, each from one piece of timber, 
and the architecture was the Queen Anne style, with pilas- 
ters, and the first stove to give forth its cheerful heat was 
the Bloodhound. Laura A. Sturges was the first Sunday- 
school teacher which Aurin Glidden had when he was a 
small lad, and Thomas Cutter was his first master at the 
Ford school-house, before it became known as the Eobinson. 

Col. N. E. Darrow and Simeon Glidden, Jr., were the 
chief subscribers to the fund for grading the ground where 
the stone school-house now stands in Clarendon village. 
William Knowles made the shoes for the Glidden family, 
at the house, while Maria Peabody made men's and boys' 
clothes, and Lorena Davis did the spinning, from flax raised 
on the place. The fruit trees were originally raised from 
the seed, on the Glidden place, and grafting belonged to a 
later date, when a nursery was on these premises, and 
peaches were so abundant that they were fed in large quan- 
tities to the hogs, as pork at this time was the chief food 
of the people. There was at one time a plum orchard on 
the south part of the Glidden farm, but it had the black 
disease, and perished many years ago. 

The mother of Simeon Glidden saw the wolves chase a 
deer in front of the old log-house, in the winter season. 
The neighbors said that Samuel Knowles, who owned many 
bees, could talk to them ; but he must have had a much 
more charming voice than we remember, and his actions 
must have been more speedy, or he would have made the 
bees very tired. 



142 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Jacob Glidden came into Clarendon in February, 1817, 
and, as Ave have before mentioned, located on the Byron 
road until 1819, when he took up one lot across from Aaron 
Stedman's, on what is now known as the Webb Akely place, 
on this road, just east of where his son, Thomas Glidden, 
lately resided, over eighty years of age. Glidden at 
first put up a shanty fifteen by twenty, with a bark roof, 
and only one room, with no up-stairs. This building was 
afterward used as a stable. Glidden made his bedstead of 
poles, and divided them with curtains, having some natural 
modesty. The fire-place was on the ground, in the corner, 
and the smoke escaped through a hole in the roof. After 
one summer he hewed the logs for a house twenty«by forty, 
one of the largest in town, with a single room below, and a 
chamber above, which was reached by a ladder. The 
chimney at first was of sticks, at one end of the house, but 
in the second one was of brick, and came down through 
the center. There was a Dutch fire-place, which would 
take in logs six feet long. 

Glidden and the boys made sap troughs for maple-sugar, 
and on the A. D. Cook place and Orange Lawrence land 
they made 1,100 pounds, which they took to Eochester with 
oxen, in a two- wheeled cart, and sold for flour. The jour- 
ney was made to Clarkson, down the Ridge road, and it 
took four days to make the round trip. At this time flour 
was worth twelve dollars per barrel, and wheat two dollars 
per bushtil. 

Judge Cantine, who owned the farm now occupied by 
Dan Salsbury, first surveyed the land on the south side of 
this road. Stead man cleared only a portion of the Jacob 
Glidden property, and then sold to Edmund and Abijah 
Crosby, whose names first appear upon the roll of 1824, 
and they finished this clearing. The ninety acres Avere 
mostly cleared by Glidden and his four sons. The Gul- 
dens Avould log up into piles about one to one and a half 



BYRON EOAD. 143 

acres in the day, during the fall, which would then be 
burnt. The drag which the farmers used was a wooden 
crotch, with iron teeth, and the wheat was clear of thistles; 
while the gardening was done by the w^omen, and the price 
of seeds was very high. Husking-bees Avere very common 
during the long winter evenings, in the old log-barns, 
where tin-lanterns full of holes were hung up, the fiddler 
brought in, and fried cakes passed around. 

Edmund Millard, who bought out Abijah Crosby, gave 
his note for $500, with David Sturges as indorser, and then 
fled the country, and Sturges sold the land to Thomas 
Glidden, David Matson, Sr., helping him to buy. This 
brought on an action in chancery by Millard, who em- 
ployed Jewett and Orlando Hastings as counsel, while Glid- 
den engaged Judge Samson, and won the case, his fees 
being 1500. After this fight Thomas Glidden called upon 
Joseph Fellows, who had charge of the land office at Gen- 
eva, and gave a contract for the land, at seven dollars per 
acre, interest seven per cent., running five years, the land 
on the south at five dollars per acre. 

The present house of Thomas Glidden, now deceased, was 
built by Ira B. Keeler, Warren Clark and D. F. St. John 
as carpenters, in 1848, and the first lumber was from Roch- 
ester, and the twenty-five acres to the north were cleared 
by Thomas. Ira B. Keeler died in the house just west of 
Thomas Glidden, which he built prior to Glidden's. The 
Jefferson Glidden house was built by David Matson. 

The east orchard of the George M. Copeland farm was 
planted by Augustus Farwell, who lived there, and whose 
name may be found upon the roll of 1827, and Isaac H. 
Davis and Ira Glidden Avere residents of this orchard in 
1829. Loami Clark owned the west part, and John Haw- 
ley the east part, of the George M. Copeland farm, and 
David Sturges traded with Clark, and allowed his store 
claim with Hawley, thus becoming the owner. Jacob 



144 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Gliddeii dug the cellar for the old red store of David 
Sturges, on the corner of Main and Brockport streets, and 
Ira B. Keeler worked on the stone store. 

It was considered a good day's trip from Thomas Gl id- 
den's to Brockport, with an ox-team, in the early days. 
The woolen cloth would be taken to Fish, the fuller, at 
Byron Center, at first, and afterward to Bushnell, at Holley. 
The young women worked from home, spinning, at seven- 
ty-five cents per week, thirty-five knots of warp a day's 
work, and a good spinner would do two day's work in one. 

Thomas Glidden made all his improvements as to or- 
chards, and gave his daughter, the wife of Akely, that 
property; also another farm to his daughter, the wife of L. 
A. Lambert — in all, some 200 acres. The shade-trees he 
also set out, and some of them along the highway were 
taken from Oopeland's grove, in the village. 

Thomas Glidden was born in Cheshire County, Town of 
Unity, New Hampshire, December 10, 1803, and passed to 
his reward October, 1888, one of the truest farmers of Clar- 
endon — a man who knew his friends in any time of the 
highway of life; full of hospitality, and above all hypocrisy 
and cunning. Warren Glidden was born July 20, 1813, 
and is still on deck on the Cowles road. David Matson, 
Jun., was born in Berkshire, Orange county, Vermont, in 
1811, and, though very rheumatic, bids fair to live to 
the age of his father, David, who left these shores at 98. 
David Matson has apple and pear-trees from the seed, 
sixty-five years of age, and on the Thomas Glidden land, is 
a pear of the Bell variety from the same seed. 

The first grafting that Thomas Glidden remembers, was 
on hearing Judge Farwell ofifer John Preston two shillings 
a graft, for all that he would set on his trees, on the present 
George M. Copeland property, on Brockport street, in 
Clarendon. The road which leads to the south-west and 
south, to the Glidden road, from the Robinson school- 



BYRON ROAD. 145 

house, we have named the Floyd Storms road, who is the 
chief farmer, and whose place is midway between Jefferson 
Glidden's, on the Matson road. The Storms honse was 
built by John Hawley, who was the first occupant; and 
after him was Chester Hawley, who set out the orchard on 
the east side of the highway. 

The beautiful maples on this road all breathe the name 
of Austin J. HoUister, who has fallen from view as the 
leaves. Helon Babcock once occupied the land of Gilbert 
Huyck, and the frame-house was built by Theodore Stone, 
for his father. The Matson road has this year (1888) been 
improved by building a new bridge across the creek where 
David Matson crossed the waters in 1 815 ; and this spot 
was well known to the old boys as the Martin bridge, where 
many a fine sucker was hooked, snared or speared, in the 
days when the water was deep, and the rainfall abundant. 
Now, only a few shiners may he seen, and its glory has de- 
parted forever. 

For a few years grass has been cut along portions of this 
road, and near the Hines place maples wave their beautiful 
leaves in the summer season. All the way from the Byron 
road east, to the Smedes road, trees could be planted by 
the present occupants, not only beautifying the highway, 
but adding to the value of their property. 

Smith Glidden, on the Thomas Glidden land, has a fine 
showing of berries of the choicest kinds, which he disposes 
of at a good profit ; proving clearly what others might do, 
if they would begin the cultivation. One is pleased to note 
that Simeon Glidden has also, on the old place, begun this 
work, and Lesso, who has lately moved onto this road and 
become one of its best farmers, could make his place much 
more profitable if he would follow the gardening system of 
the fatherland. 

The Matson road has stone walls most of the way, and 
many of them were laid by those who labor no more among 



146 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the rocks of Clarendon. The Storms road should be 
crushed with stone from the north to the south, as in bad 
weather this is one of the worst in Clarendon; and if the 
farmers to the south would only awake to their best inter- 
ests, this would be quickly done. On this road may be 
found wild strawberries in abundance, a rare occurrence in 
any other portion of the town. David Matson is the only 
survivor of the original settlers on these two roads, and the 
rest have gone the silent way. 

The next road which opens into the Byron road, at 
Chauncey Fords, is the Tousley road, from the fact that it 
was cut through in an early day to reach the Tousley set- 
tlement, on that portion of the same road which turns in 
by the home of Otto Gaines, to the south, just above the 
M. D. Milliken estate. This road is only about one mile 
in length, with no houses, and rises quite abruptly over the 
hill, dividing lands now owned by Abram Bartlett, and for- 
merly included in the old Church and Tousley property. 

As we sweep to the eastward and southward beyond the 
farms of George M. Copeland and Newton Orcutt, we reach, 
on the east, the Glidden road, which runs nearly east until it 
joins the Cowles road leading to the north, and the Tem- 
pleton road to the south, intersecting to the south, about 
midway, the Andrus road leading to the Root road, at the 
Root school-house, and just opposite to the north, the 
Storms road, which unites with the Matson road at Jeffer- 
son Glidden's. This may be known as the West Glidden 
road, in contradistinction from the East Glidden road, 
which leaves the Cowles and Smedes road at Willet Jack- 
son's, bearing to the eastward by the Glidden school-house, 
until it enters Sweden. The West Glidden road leaves the 
Robinson school-house to the right, and gradually ascends 
up a sandy soil, with a growth of evergreens and other tim- 
ber, to the south, where game may be found, as partridge 
and snipe, if the law permitted, and on the north the fine 



BYRON ROAD. 



147 



lands with William S. Glidden, in a high state of cultiva- 
tion,— his large barn the most striking object. 

The land now slopes to the eastward and northward, 
until we reach the Glidden graveyard on the north, and 
the stately dwelling which was, until lately, the home of 
William S. Glidden, now in Holley. whose story we have 
given in full from his lips. Glidden has been one of the 
heaviest wheat-growers in Clarendon, and a man whom the 
daylight seldom found in bed. The Robinson Brothers, 
on his farm of over two hundred acres, are mighty men of 
work, and they leave not a stone unturned to insure success, 
while Glidden may be seen, at the age of 78, riding daily to 
and fro from Holley, to see with his own eyes how the good 
work goes on. Over a slightly descending grade the road 
passes for about one-half a mile across the Glidden territory, 
until it reaches the Andrus road on the south. 

Away back in the years Samuel L. Young owned the 
Charles Glidden lands, but Time has grown aged and old 
since he moved his body hence. To-day Clarendon has 
not one farmer that bears this family name, and Charles 
Glidden may drive his plow spring or fall without fearing 
the Young intruders. Diagonally to the north is Charles' 
brother Fred, tall and stalwart, trampling down the soil 
once known to Philander Brown. Why they placed him 
among the numerous family of this name our chronicler 
gives us no information, and whether he did up all things 
Brow7i we cannot say, but this we do know that no one 
can call upon Fred H. Ghdden by daylight, moonlight, 
starlight or lamplight, but he will be treated according to 
the Golden Rule, and go away convinced that Fred and 
Charley are gentlemen every inch of soul measure. To the 
eastward on the south side Clark Storms has a very pleas- 
ant home, and his lady is well known as one of the chief 
singers of Clarendon. Here the land is nearly as level as a 



148 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Kansas prairie, and man and beast are not obliged to look 
skyward to know which way they are traveling. 

Along this road are some beautiful elms, that throw their 
rich, dark foliage to wave in the sunny month of June, 
and if they had only scattered their children from the 
Byron road to the Oowles and Templeton roads, this would 
have truly been the Elm avenue of Clarendon. In rainy 
seasons the West Glidden road is heavy and the passage 
difficult, especially between the corners at Warren Glid- 
den's and the corners at Charles and Fred Glidden 's, as the 
travel to the west by William S. Glidden's is very light at 
such times, as the public prefer to move to the north over 
the Storms road and to the soutli over the Andrus road. 
Here, then, a stone-crusher would make the passage easy 
during the whole year. 

The Andrus road extends from the West Glidden road 
to the Root road in a southwesterly and southeasterly direc- 
tion, veering from the west the Crossett road near the 
late residence of Enoch Andrus. The first house which we 
meet on this road is that of Gilbert Cook, on the west side, 
and this is at least a quarter of a mile from the West Glid- 
den road. Gilbert Cook has lived here for many long 
years, and now that he is old, disease has laid its heavy 
hand upon his nerves and muscles, and chained him as a 
prisoner within his own dwelling. The buildings and all 
the surroundings wear the look of decay, and the absence 
of the master is everywhere apparent. As this road swings 
to the eastward the ruins of a grain barn, with the white 
walls of a frame house, inform the passer-by that until 
1888 Orson Cook made his domicile here. He has now 
hied away to town and left his landed possessions at the 
tender mercy of tenants. Cornelius Putman had, many 
years gone by, real property at the north corner of the 
Andrus road, and, as near as we can locate, Clark Hayes 
was the owner of the dust which sifts in at Orson Cook's 



BYRON ROAD. 149 

windows. The rest of the Andrus road will be included 
in our description of the Root road. 

The Andrus road, from the Orossett road north to the 
West Glidden road, is a dreary passage-way, and one may 
travel this by the hour and have for company only the 
crows that fly overhead with their dolorous " caw " ! Weeds 
are abundant, the road-bed very bad and the fences all wear 
the impression of sloth, negligence and the last stages of 
support. If one desires the quiet and charm of a country 
life, undisturbed even by the murmur of the brook or the 
hum of humanity, he can find it here free from the taint 
of life's busy hive. If the ill-starred owners of this por- 
tion of Clarendon would j)lant shade-trees along the high- 
way, they could, at least, enjoy the presence of leaves with 
their sighing in the summer, the notes of robins while 
nesting, and, in the winter, gaze upon their trunks and 
branches as evidences that some human hand was ready to 
give proofs of existence. The absence of the barefooted 
boy with his cheek of tan, of whom Whittier sang so 
sweetly, or as Shakespeare warbled, "With shining morn- 
ing face, creeping like snail unwillingly to school," only 
proves that the golden days of schoolhood have gone 
forever. 

Just beyond Nathaniel Brackett's, a road leads to the 
east from the Byron road, which we shall designate as the 
Crossett road, from the fact that this family had their abode 
here at a very early day. As we rise to the eastward on the 
north side of the highway, pleasantly located, is the resi- 
dence of Benjamin Boots, commanding a view of the 
country for miles around. As far back as we can go, one 
Lee dwelt here, and when Valentine Tousley resided upon 
his homestead on the Nathaniel Brackett farm in the 
forties, these lands were in his possession, and, after his 
decease, came into the hands of his brother, Orson Tousley. 
About twenty rods to the west of the little creek which 



150 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

flows across the highway was an individual by the name of 
Tichner, who dwelt quietly under his log enclosure, but 
where he journeyed to we cannot say. To the east was 
Calvin Ohadwick, on the south side, and he has also dis- 
appeared from the roll of memory ; but he cleared up the 
land at this point and is therefore entitled to particular 
mention. Beyond him eastward, on the north side, was 
Nathaniel Crossett, the father of John, who was born here 
nearly sixty years ago. His father was a worker and the 
soil could tell his labor if the old trees would once more 
come back to earth. Across from the present home of 
John Crossett lived Daniel Crossett, his uncle, who planted 
the first orchard, and this year, 1888, Eugene Crossett, the 
son of John, dug up the old trees and has started another 
orchard, which may live on as did the old one for sixty 
years or more. The old orchard on the John Crossett farm 
was set out by Obadiah Fuller and must soon give up its 
apple-ghost. The upright portion of John Crossett's house 
was built many years ago by the brother of the widow of 
Belah Brockway and moved by James Winn, the old car- 
penter, just south of its present site by the old pump, and 
about 1865 John Crossett moved it to where it now stands. 
All of the other improvements have been made by John, 
with the exception of the old portion of the barn which 
was framed by Fuller. 

The first stone walls on this road were laid by Hood, 
under the supervision of Enoch Andrus, and the rail fences 
are very old, the work of the first settlers. The new house 
on the north was raised by Jehial Hollister, in the year 
1884, and he is the owner of twenty-five acres at this place. 
The maples which are growing finely on the south side of 
the highway John Crossett planted, over twenty years ago, 
and if Worthy Cook had followed his example one portion 
of this road would have been an avenue of shade. This 
road needs much work, but the number of residents will 



BYRON ROAD. 



15i 



not allow of great improvement, another instance why the 
highways should be subject to a general law, so that all 
parts of the town would alike receive their just benefit by 
a direct tax, abolishing the poll system. 

The Root road, which leads to the eastward, between the 
lands of Nathan R. Merrill and Frederick Dezetter, is 
joined on the south by the Bird road, Barker road and Car- 
ver road, and on the north by the Andrus and Templeton 
road. According to George Root, Jehial Root, his grand- 
father, came onto this road in 1811, and took up the land. 
As we enter this road from the Byron road, one cannot fail 
of noticing a stately elm that must be over one hundred 
years of age. 

The first house we reach on the north side was, until 
lately, the residence of Barney Goodenough, who passed 
over the river by consumption. A little to the east Asahel 
Matson had a log-house, and for many years occupied the 
place which is now in the possession of William Bird. He 
wad a peculiar man, and was known to all the country 
round as " Old Ace." He passed away to New York, and 
there, as rumor says, left his bones. 

The lands now held by Alvah Blanchard, on the south 
and north, in 1821 were taxed against Charles Maine, and 
the same year Thomas T. Maine occupied the home of 
Daniel Whipple. Across the way was Thomas Butcher, 
whom we have mentioned as living in the old Col. Lewis 
house, on the Byron road, and he set out the trees here a 
long time ago. Asahel Clark was in this district as over- 
seer in 1821, and his possessions took in the Blanchard 
property of to-day. At this time Samuel Rodgers had the 
llarley Munger territory, and he must have done much 
of the clearing side by side with Clark. 

Jehial Root was one X)f the first to cut the timber be- 
tween the Sweden and Byron line, in 1814. He was a great 
lover of politics, and would spend many hours with Jacob 



152 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Andrus, discussing about Tipj^ecanoe and Tyler, too, or 
overhauling Martin Van, Van, who became a used-up man, 
as the song went. His son, Nathan, died at the good 
old age of eighty-two, but suffered terribly for many 
years with a cancer. Nathan worked at one time in 
Byron, when a young man, for ten dollars per month, and 
received as pay a two-year-old heifer, in the place of cash. 
He saw the soldiers of 1812, as they passed over the Eidge 
road, on their way to meet the red-coats. His first team 
was black, which his son George well remembers. George 
Root was born in the old log-house, which was one of the 
best in town, November 11, 1833. The house was lathed 
and plastered, something very unusual for those log-cabin 
days. 

Where George Root now lives, the father of John N. 
Beckley, Esq., of Rochester, once had a plastered house. 
Now George Root has a spacious farm-house, with furnace 
and his outbuildings all bespeak the presence of a man who 
loves to keep step with progress. He has been a large hop- 
grower, and his fields are under a high state of cultivation. 
A sandstone horse-block, just in front of the gateway, bears 
the name of Root, and one wall on his side of the highway, 
forty years of age, was not repaired until 1887. Root has 
set out on the roadside, for a long distance, apple-trees, 
which are beginning to bear their fruits. 

Harley Munger has a noble residence on this road, on the 
south side, where lofty elms look down upon a broad plaza 
in front of the mansion. The barns here are of the latest 
style, and the premises ever wear that appearance of com- 
fort and convenience which indicate clearly the true nature 
of the owner. Munger has one of the best farms in all 
Clarendon, and taps annually over 400 trees, in the making 
of maple-sugar and the production of maple-syrup. 

Curtis Cook moved on to his place in 1835. Where Cook 
bought eighteen acres, there was only a small log-house. 



BYRON KOAD. 153 

and he rigged over a corn-barn in which to live till 1861, 
when he built the present house, now occupied by his son, 
Whitney, who has become the owner of these premises since 
his father's decease. The most of this land was cleared by 
Curtis Cook, and the west orchard was his planting; also, 
the beautiful evergreens and shade-trees near the house. 
The location of the residence is fine, and the eye takes in a 
goodly prospect. 

As we ascend a rise in the highway, to the south is the 
beautiful home of Tommy Benton, as the boys call him. 
This is truly the richest farm in the whole town, and would 
challenge admiration from any resident of Iowa, Illinois or 
Kansas. The land has that peculiar level which carries 
one to some prairie country, but the magnificent grove of 
maple soon tells us that we are in a state that no other can 
hope to equal. As one farmer remarked to the author, 
^' This farm has made every man rich who occupied it," 
Just in front of the residence are maples that in summer 
are most beautiful, and to the west, in a direct line, are 
twenty-eight others which cannot fail to attract the atten- 
tion of all travelers. If envy were allowable, one might 
be pardoned for looking with the green eye upon this mag- 
nificent property, in the richest portion of Clarendon. 

Thomas Templeton built the large frame-house at the 
head of the Templeton road, in 1834, and one can look for 
miles over Clarendon from this commanding spot. This 
house was one of the best in its day, and even now its walls 
convey a silent tale to every beholder. 

On the Dezetter lands, along the highway, reaching to 
the Blanchard property, apple-trees have been planted 
which, in time, will pay well for their place in the soil. 

In a pasture lot, to the north of Alvah Blanchard, may 
be seen an immense limestone rock, over forty feet in cir- 
cumference, and twenty-five feet in height, standing all 
alone in a pasture lot. 



154 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

This road is generally kept in good condition, and, were 
it not for a few neglected spots, could be called the best in 
Clarendon. Maples could be taken from the groves near 
by, and this road made beautiful in shade during spring 
and summer. 

Nearly opposite the Ashael Matson homestead is a nar- 
row road extending due south, which we have named the 
Bird road, after Deacon Bird, who built the stone part of 
the Beardsley house on this road, and moving to Holley, 
with Abijah Dean, put up the first warehouse in that vil- 
lage. William Bird, an Englishman, on the Byron road, 
is now the possessor of these lands, and the house is lonely, 
the road as silent as some cemetery, with an abundance of 
weeds choking the passage. If any one in Clarendon de- 
sires absolute quiet, he can find it here, only interrupted by 
the crowing of chanticleer. 

Where the boys and girls have their happiest days, across 
from the Root school-house, is the Barker road, which en- 
ters Byron only about three-fourths of a mile away. This 
is a good road, and no better soil can be found in town. 
The residence of Daniel Barker, with all his other build- 
ings, are of the very best, and every inch of his territory is 
cultivated to the highest degree. Fine apple-trees line the 
highway on either side, and the clean grass-plat has no 
weeds to mar its beauty. Barker is one of the most stylish 
farmers in Clarendon, a man who would be observed by any 
stranger as nature's true gentleman. He never lies down 
in the old rut of the muddy Past, but wears the beautiful 
garments of the Present. He is the heaviest maple-syrup 
producer in town — tapping in his grand grove 500 trees, 
and sending annually, to Boston, Buffalo and New York, 
about 2,000 pounds of the choicest fluid, all passed through 
evaporators and strainers, that remove all sediment. 

The house to the south on the Barker lands, was built 
by Benjamin Bower, but is now used as a tenant dwelling 



BYRON ROAD. 155 

by Barker. Ebenezer Smith was the owner of the Barker 
possessions in 1821, and has gone upward. Barker, this 
year, 1888, is setting out eleven acres of Niagara grapes, on 
a portion of his land looking to the north, and he is ready 
to bear all criticism, and stand all expense, in testing this 
favorite variety on his native heath. 

Turning to the north, we will travel the Andrus road, 
and introduce the Andrus family to the reader. In 1814 
Jacob Andrus, the father of Enoch, came onto what has 
been known as the Royal Taylor property. In 1816, at 
seven years of age, Enoch came here, and lived with his 
father in a nide log cabin, 18 by 24, with a roof covered 
with basswood troughs, one overlapping the other on a flat 
surface ; and this house had no chimney, only a hole 
through the roof. In 1816, the cold summer, there were 
two frosts ; the first cut the corn, and the second killed it. 
In the following year the father was forced to sell the only 
cow they had, in order to purchase wheat flour. 

Enoch was at Holley when the celebration took place 
over the Erie canal, in 1825. Squire Wood, of Hulberton, 
was marshal of the day, the band a marshal one, Samuel 
Coy, of Clarendon, the fifer. The speaking by Clinton was 
on the bridge, and a line-boat was finely decorated, the 
crowd in attendance very large for those days. If we liad 
one of Hogarth's paintings of this group, what a scene ! 
Enoch took a trip in the first regular line-boat from Lock- 
port to Albion. When he was about twenty years of age, 
he walked, with a score of others, to Byron, on to Batavia, 
up the old turnpike road to Buffalo, to see the Thayer 
brothers hung. They stopped for the night about five 
miles from Buff'alo, and in their journey found taverns 
every few miles, the whole distance. At this time Buffalo 
was a small village, and the hanging took place on the w^est 
side of Main street, near the Terrace, and all the boats in 
the harbor were covered with people witnessing the execu- 



156 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

tion. There was a rope stretched across the street to keep 
back the crowd from the prisoners, and these three were 
placed on a plank, and when they dropped there was a gen- 
eral cry of " Oh!" The criminals chose their own length 
of rope, and the coffins were placed nnder them. 

The great crowd ate np all that the village of Buffalo 
could supply, and Enoch and his friends were in the streets 
all night Avithout lodging, the weather quite cold for June. 
The next day fifteen of the party went to the Falls, and 
staid in a barn over night. The village was deserted on 
account of sickness. For one-half mile before reaching the 
Falls, the country was a wilderness. The party passed 
through Lewiston to Lockport, which was a little village, 
and took a line-boat below the Locks, which was drawn by 
two horses, the canal only a ditch. 

The first winter wheat which Jacob Andrus raised, he 
paid a man one shilling out of the store to draw to Roch- 
ester, where it was sold for two shillings a bushel. The 
first wagon which Andrus had was two wheeled, and drawn 
by oxen. The present frame-house of the Andrus home- 
stead is over fifty years of age ; the lumber from Le Roy, 
clapboards from Sandy Creek, with shaved shingles from 
Allegany county. The milling of the Andrus family was, 
in 1814, at Pumpkin Hill, and Jacob Andrus would take a 
bag of wheat on his shoulders, and go in a path to this 
point. 

Solomon Hammond was the first wall-layer in this sec- 
tion. Most of the land Enoch Andrus cleared, and passed 
quietly away, on the old homestead, 1886, at the age of 77, 
respected by all who knew him. Horace Hood also laid 
stone upon stone for Andrus across his territory. One 
Shepherd lived, very early, where the pump stands on the 
Storms road to the west, and Stephen Howard once fired up 
on the same road to the north of John Hawley. He bought 
out Bullard, who had a large family of boys, and Frank 



BYRON ROAD. 157 

Brown built where Floyd Storms now resides. Squire P. 
Green had his home Avhere Warren Glidden lives on the 
Cowles road, and had a whole lot of one hundred acres 
here, while Lyman Green was on the west part of this land, 
on the West Glidden road. 

Edwin P. Sanford occupied the lands where Whitney 
Oook lived on the Templeton road, to the north of the 
Templeton farm, and James Dean held the lands now 
known as the Mitchell place, on the same road. Isaac 
Crossett had his hearth on the McGowan property, on the 
east side of the Templeton road. Samuel Barker gave a 
name to every road in this section, and he would have done 
finely had he laid out some western city where only the 
grass was to be seen. 

There was a saw-mill for a time owned by Horace Taylor, 
west and south of Worthy Cook's, on the Crossett road. 
Paul Robiuson had a whole lot where Charles Lusk now 
lives, on the Lusk road, which passes to the south, oppo- 
site the Glidden school-house, out of the East Glidden 
road. Joseph L. Cook and Jared L. Cook were also on the 
Lusk road, opposite Asa Glidden's, but were in no wise 
connected with the rest of the tribe in Clarendon. Daniel 
Vining had his home at one time in the Mills place, and 
Jared Vining east of Willet Jackson's barn, on the East 
Glidden road. 

On the McCormick farm the first settler was Andrew 
Ingersoll, afterward James Bodwell, and they cleared the 
greater portion of this land on the East Glidden road. 
Elder Sheldon, a Baptist minister, with a large family of 
boys, held family prayer on the soil when James Lusk 
passed away and Lusk built the present house. Old Sam- 
uel Hawley Avas on the East Glidden road just across from 
Willett Jackson's and took up what is now known as the 
Jackson property, clearing up this fine territory. The very 
large house at this point was built many years ago by one 



158 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

McCormick, a Scotchman. Where Adelbert Jackson has a 
fine estate on the Cowles road, Josiah Howard could be 
seen daily, and he also took up a whole lot where Charles 
T. Cowles lately said " Good-bye." Helon Babcock, who 
moved to Illinois, had his fires at the Mack place, where 
the old red house still meets the eye. To the south and 
east on the Co\^les road was Jabez H. Davis. Levi Davis 
was a fine mason and laid up the Holley Agricultural 
Works, the George Salsbury stone house, and was the boss 
in the building of the Universalist church at Clarendon, 
and did all the facing in front, and built one store in 
Churchville and one at Cortland. He walked from Massa- 
chusetts to Chautauqua County and returned on foot. The 
old red house which w^e have mentioned was built by Fer- 
rin Speer. ISToah Sweet resided in what is now known as 
the Willard Storms place, on the west side of the Temple- 
ton road, with a beautiful hedge and finely shaded yard. 
Sweet had money enough to pay for his land, the only one 
of this character in all Clarendon, and he must have been 
a great worker, as he cleared the whole piece. Elisha 
Smith and Truman Smith at first owned the James A. 
Hollister possessions, which are now held by James Hovey. 
This is one of the finest places on the Templeton road, 
with large and elegant buildings and yards that hear 
the maples whisper their music. Squire Hollister, as he 
was generally called, lost this property through his sons 
and became an object of charity at last. Now they have 
all passed to their account. 

Jabez Mead built a shanty and owned land on the west 
side of the Templeton road across from Whitney Cook's 
former home. The first occupant of the Orson Cook place 
was one Cole, whose Christian name we cannot give. On 
the Carver road, which leads south from Tommy Benton, 
Dodge held the Carver lands, and on the old Lemuel Cook 
place on this road Abel Mead was the original owner. On 



BYRON KOAD. 159 

the Eeed road, which leads to the south of Loren Hill, 
Hale and Jloratio Reed held large farms, and Horatio, whom 
we have included in "Stories," has just passed over the 
Long Bridge at the age of ninety-one. In his day he was 
one of the chief citizens of Clarendon, as the records fully 
show. Francis Wells had his home to the north of Reed. 
On the Hill road, which led into the Templeton road, lived 
Loren Hill, on an elevated piece of ground, where he could 
sniff the breezes from every quarter. One Fox built the 
houses and also cleared the land. Hill was not worth one 
penny when he died, although he owned this farm when 
crops were good and prices high. When justice of the 
peace he said, in the presence of the author, '^that he did 
not know whether his head was on his shoulders or on his 
feet," a lawsuit having turned him upside down in his own 
estimation. 

On the Reed road, where Acton drives his team, J. F. 
Autin was the early settler. Where Billy White lives on 
the Sweden road, Ainsworth once snored, but he's slept his 
last sleep many long years since. Joel Barnes claimed the 
deserted Bascom lands, and now they are under a person 
called Brooks, in no wise related to the old major. 

Warren Glidden came on to his present home in 1840, 
and into Clarendon with his brother Thomas in 1817 from 
Essex County on Lake Ohamplain, and were fourteen days 
on the road with two ox-teams coming into Holley from 
the Ridge road. 

Jacob Andrus was a shoemaker and made all stock for 
the family, while Enoch's mother would keep her father 
company mending clothes, until the hand of time was on 
the point of twelve. Enoch set out his orchard and took 
some of his trees from Brewster's, on the Ridge, and others 
from Dezetter's place, and his first grafting was done by 
Ira B. Keeler over forty years ago. Enoch remembers the 
beautiful elm near his house when it was only a bush. 



160 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Storms put out the avenue of maples on what was at one 
time the home of Selah North, who was imprisoned for 
taking oS. postage stamps in the Clarendon office. In 
1840, when " Tippecanoe and Tyler too " ran for president 
and vice-president, the canal-boats had on board troughs 
filled with hard cider, out of which men drank as beasts. 
On one of the party wagons was a coon chained, with the 
words, " Five dollars to keep the peace." Enoch Andrus' 
first buggy was ironed by Sol. Woodard and lasted until 
the world was tired of its presence. The clearing of the 
Eoot lands was mostly the work of Nathan, who came into 
the town when he was eleven years of age, and who labored 
daily until cancer ate away his energies. 

Edson Howard once owned the Adelbert Jackson lands 
and Stephen Howard planted the maples for Charles T. 
Cowles, who with his good lady are no more to be seen. 
Dr. Gillett, from Sweden Center, and Dr. Ruggles, from 
near the stone bridge, were the old physicians of the 
Cowles section. If they were only on deck at present we 
might be able to give some very interesting stories of their 
adventures among the early settlers of Clarendon ; but they 
had not enough of calomel or jalap in their systems to 
drive away Death, who downed them at last. 

East of Loren Hill's, on the Sweden road some forty rods 
from the Sweden line, is the Linkliter place, with a large 
number of evergreens in the front yard. Parker Butter- 
field's is tlie last house between Clarendon and Sweden. An 
old gentleman by the name of Hammond is one of the 
residents on the Reed road, and, as we are informed, has a 
stock of tickets which he has gathered for years. 

William McG-owan built his present house in 1884, and 
has resided on the same place for 18 years. There is a very 
tine elm just in front of the house some forty years of age. 
George Cowles and Henry Cowles have each pleasant homes 
on the Cowles road, and they could not wish for a finer 



BYEON ROAD. ^^^ 



location. The greater number of these farmers make 
Holley their market and mail town, and are seldom seen m 
Clarendon only on special occasions, when formerly this 
was their head center. The roads in this portion of the 
town are in much better condition than in other parts, and 
the farmers to the east could buy and sell their neighbors 
of the west. They drive in better style, take more pride m 
their possessions, although it cannot be said that they are 
very public-spirited, when Clarendon demands improve- 
ments in the village, as their former love has departed. If 
the farmers in the east and south would step over into 
Sweden and see for themselves what stone-crushmg has 
done for the highways, they would at once advocate such a 
machine for Clarendon and take pride in its operations 
The beautiful groves in these portions of the town would 
afford the finest of shade-trees, and when our Arbor Day 
comes we may hope to see all these highways avenues of 
shade wherever the traveler may go. 



162 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEK YIII. 



WYMAN ROAD. 



When we leave the Village of Clarendon we may pass 
to the southwest, up a rise of ground above the mill, over 
a rocky ledge beyond Cyrus Foster's home, on a highway 
which we shall call the Wyman road, after Stephen Wyman, 
who was one of its first settlers. This road was fully 
established in 1832 by Lemuel Cook, Jr., and John Preston, 
as Highway Commissioners of Clarendon. Formerly the 
Tonawanda Swamp came to the roadside from the west, 
and in our day we can well remember the dark and somber 
evergreens, loaded down with their rich hangings of beau- 
tiful snow, and the white rabbits that would dart into their 
burrows when Morris Dewey or some other hunter appeared 
in sight. John Hughes, who once lived on this road to 
the east, was well known for many years to all the good 
people as one possessing more intelligence than any other 
Irishman in town. 

Marvin Powers had his house to the south and west, and 
in 1837 he took advantage of the Bankru23t Act and robbed 
David Sturges of a large store-bill which he forgot to pay 
in after years, either in whole or in part. The same day 
the lightning had struck Sturges' cow under the large elm 
on Albion street, and he was informed of these two mis- 
fortunes at the same time. '' God Almighty and man are 
both against me," Sturges replied, and walked quickly into 
the stone store. The above-named property has now passed 
into the hands of Michael Murphy, who owns the land on 
both sides to the Hughes possessions. He has changed the 



WYMAN ROAD. 163 

whole appearauce of this territory, making the soil to bloom 
and blossom as the rose under his superior farming. The 
old island that the boys will remember has all been passed 
over by the axe, and the place is hardly recognizable where 
we used to take our girls and gather wild strawberries. 
Murphy has made his dwelling one of the best on the road, 
and his farm is the most valuable at present. 

In tli^ old stone house to the south and east, Peter 
Stehler now occupies, which was walled at the expense of 
Samuel Salsbury, now deceased, and on this spot Henry 
Jones, the first blacksmith, lived in 1813. Cornish, the 
first preacher in the vilhige school-house, also prayed here, 
and when he departed stuck his stakes in the Keystone 
State. Thomas Foster at one time looked out of the win- 
dows of the stone dwelling ; and the author recollects 
when a lad of tipping mother, baby, cutter and all into a 
large snowbank at this place. To the south on the Avest is 
Patrick McDonald, James Fee and Madison Mead, who all 
have small properties which have been taken from the 
swamp. Snugly situated is James Oarberry, with a fine 
orchard to the north of the house, and on a rock a bed of 
flowers that tells plainer than words the love of the beau- 
tiful by the ladies in the house. 

Farther to the north is Martin Higgins, by the '' big 
rock," which is now only one-half its former size and is 
even now twenty-six feet long, ten feet high, and ten feet 
in thickness, the house of Higgins just behind it. This is 
the same rock where Isaac Huntoon lay one dark night 
when he was two seas over, obstructing the highway. That 
night Valentine Tousley had a raging toothache, and, well 
mounted on his good mare, was jogging toward Clarendon 
to have a turnkey hitch applied to the troublesome mem- 
ber. When the nag reached the " big rock " she would no 
farther go, and Valentine turned backward. Once more 
he essayed the passage, when he heard a snoring sound as 



164: HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

of some one in deep sleep. "Who's there?" demanded 
Tousley. '• Ikey Pikey," came forth from the mouth of 
Isaac Huntoon, as he rolled his body out of the road and 
allowed Valentine and his steed to pursue their way. This 
same Isaac once remarked to Morgan in the " Mills " school- 
house that "unless a reformation soon took place in his 
life he would not have enough left to buy a neck-yoke." 

Martin Higgins left Schenectady for the Mexican war 
while working on the New York Central Railroad, which 
was then new, in May, 1847, with twenty-five other men. 
They took a steamer down the Hudson to New York, and 
then by steamer to Mexico. After landing, they marched 
«very night through the mountains in order to escape the 
Mexicans. Martin was present at the street fight in the 
City of Mexico, when the City Hall was taken ; and he 
was neither wounded or sick during the campaign, and was 
mustered out at Washington in 1849. 

The old walls in this section were laid by Langworthy, 
and the clearing and setting out of fruit has been the labor 
of Higgins, who has made this a pleasant home. To the 
south and east De Witt Cook, a few years ago, paid the 
debt of nature, and now these lands have passed into the 
hands of his son Edward, who is a Methodist minister. 
Here may be seen the ruins of an old kiln, where Enos 
Dodge, many years gone by, burnt lime, and sold it for ten 
€ents per bushel ; and the sugar-bush near by has been one 
of the best in town, among the lime rocks. On the same 
side of the highway may be seen an old log-house, now de- 
serted, once the residence of Merritt Cook, when the rosy- 
cheeked Emma tripped lightly into the stone school-house 
at Clarendon. 

Michael Nugent, who, until his departure, had his resi- 
dence on this road, has been known for many years to all 
the old residents of town, as an industrious and well-dis- 



WYMAN ROAD. 165 

posed Irishman, and his works do follow him in out-door 
labor of this section. 

Beyond James Oarberry this road is entered by the Milli- 
ken road from the west, and the Tousley road from the 
south. A little to the south of these roads, Billy Bolton 
and his good dame passed many hours away. Now they 
liave both laid down the burdens of this life, and taken 
that journey which no one can record ; and Billy can be 
seen no more, "firm-paced and slow" moving to and from 
the village. 

On the opposite side of this road was a log-house, where 
once Elijah Hoskins, the father of Frank Hoskins, the 
Clarendon jockey, resided. Elijah did not imitate the 
good Elijah of the Bible, but was such a brawler that he 
lost one of his eyes in a fight at the village, and was a ter- 
ror to his family, when loaded with new corn- juice. Levi 
Coy, of Brockport, married one of Elijah's daughters. 
Lotham Coy's father had his meals here long before young 
Lotham knew enough to price fat cattle. 

To the south on the rise, may be seen a well-painted 
house and good out-buildings, now in the possession of 
Priest Wilcox, who has a very happy home. Orson Ham- 
mond was here in auld lang syne, — where his bones rest 
we cannot state. When David P. Wilcox returned from 
the Badger State, he took up his abode here, and the im- 
provements are mainly his own. David Chappel had an 
old-fashioned cider-mill on this property, with a beam sixty 
feet long, and a box in which stones and weights were 
placed to squeeze out the apple- juice. 

Where Clark Coy looks out of a large frame-house, Wal- 
ter Holt anciently held converse, and was noted as one of 
the Clarendon ministers. In 1821 these lands belonged to 
Fuller Coy, the brother of Cyrus Coy ; and now Horace, 
his son, has the title deeds, which were once in the charge 
of Orson Tousley, who swallowed Fuller, — and the present 



166 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

situation only shows how the " whirligig of time brings in 
its revenges." Jacob Glidden also lived here, and one of 
his daughters was the first wife of David Mower. Orson 
Tousley, when he first married, lived in a log-house on the 
Coy property. The very night that he was married, the 
boys danced all night, and would not allow Orson and his 
bride an hour of enjoyment, notwithstanding that Electa 
said, "Now, boys, do go !" but at daylight took off Or- 
son's wedding garments, arrayed him in a hickory shirt, 
and marched him off to labor on the Byron road. 

Over the way, on the Coy road which leads to the Rob- 
inson school-house, may be seen an old plastered house, 
erected by Cyrus Coy in 1835, and now a hop-drier for the 
many hops which Horace raises annually. Elias Goode- 
nough and Fayette Goodenough have good locations on the 
Coy road. 

To the west the Maine road passes, until it joins the "West 
Tousley road, which ends in the swamp. T. S. Maine set- 
tled at first on what is now known as the Bauman place, 
next to John Pugh's, in 1816, and felled the first tree, built 
the first log-house, and was the first chopper to clear a plat 
between the "Mills" and Byron, in this section. He had 
a pine log for his door, and in 1817 purchased a barrel of 
flour at Hanford's Landing, at $25 a barrel, and gave away 
one-half of it on his way home, to satisfy starving settlers. 
He was drafted into the war of 1812, and drew cannon- 
balls from Sackett's Harbor to Rome, twenty-four balls in a 
load, and five cents each for all above this number, the 
roads in a fearful condition, and was able to take only three 
extra balls, and was obliged to camp out one night. 
Maine's log-house was burnt. Himself and wife lived 
together sixty-one years. Maine cut down on his prem- 
ises, a hemlock eight rods long, which was used as a fence 
for some time on this road. 

To the south, on the east side, lives Alonzo Smith, who 



WYMAN ROAD. 167 

married Rose, the daughter of Stephen Wyman, Jr. The 
name of Wyman appears on the tax-roll of 1829, as over- 
seer in this district. The present frame house was built 
by Stephen Wyman, Jr., in 1830, and the carpenters were 
Alfred Gott and Moses Decker, of Byron ; while Bates did 
the stone-work. Stephen's body now rests peacefully in 
the Robinson graveyard. 

On the same side of the highway, atjthe foot of the hill, 
lived the revolutionary darkey, McManners, when this road 
was only a wilderness. Near by was Van Buren, but as to 
his relationship to "Mattie," we know not. The land is 
now under the charge of Jay Merrill, the son of Wilson 
Merrill, who lives in Byron. John Richey, now in Holley, 
at one time lived in a log-house here, and he built the 
frame-house of Merrill's. One upon a time, when away 
from home, he found his new barn in ashes, the sport of 
children. 

Richard Babbage's house, on the lofty hill, was raised 
by Chester Coy, who has his domicile north from Holley. 
Jotham Bellows erected the frame-house to the south, now 
owned by Darius Harrington, and the red barn was put up 
by George Cook, from one season's threshing. Samuel 
Miller had a log-house burnt up here one very cold night, 
and lost nearly all his household goods. Where Merritt 
Cook lately lived, Josiah Miller was the first settler. The 
old fiddler in this district was Levi Cooley, who could 
imitate the bobolink so cleverly, that the birds would be 
deceived. 

On the fine location of Samuel Perkins lived, very early, 
John Sturdevant, whose name may be found in 1829. Peter 
Prindle, to the south, was the overseer of this district that 
year, and he was assessed more than any other man of the 
district. On the west side of this road, before one enters 
the swampy portion, stands a cinnamon rose-bush which, 
in the sunny month of June, has its wealth and beauty of 



168 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

sweet roses. This bush whispers the love of woman, and 
here it was that Deacon Wilcox had his pleasant abode — 
now no more. To the south is Andrew Kuhn, who loves 
to have his mother entertain their friends. 

Where Samuel Butcher has the finest of apples, Levi 
Sherwood had possession, and on the Morgan place was a 
frame-house, which was burnt, once occupied by Chester 
Olmsted. The Morgan mansion is the most showy in this 
neighborhood, and is very noticeable from any quarter. 
John Taggart, who lived in a log-house near here, lost his 
life, in 1840, through his horse running away, he having 
too much whisky and hard cider in his system. In the 
Deacon Wilcox house the good people shouted at meetings 
so loudly that they could be heard over to the Weir's place, 
on the Tousley road. 

On the Stevens road, which leads east to the Byron road, 
was once a steam saw-mill, put up by the Seavers, of Byron, 
in which Lorenzo D. Sheldon was one of the sawyers, and 
Arnold Jenks, of HoUey, the engineer of a small power 
engine. This mill was slabbed about thirty-eight years 
since, but was run at a loss, and finally closed up its hum- 
ming. To the east is a wood-colored house, which Frank 
Cook, the noted circuit preacher, built. He drove in a 
two-wheeled gig, and when he passed by on Sunday morn- 
ings, the boys would sing out, " Look out, Frank, or Horace 
will get there first ! " The father of Thomas Bolton had a 
log-house across from Samuel L. Stevens, and his land 
joined Nichols at the Cook school-house. Samuel L. Stev- 
ens built his log-house on the Stevens road over sixty years 
ago, and the frame-house in 1858. Stevens did his first 
milling at an old log-mill, near the present site of G-reen's 
mill, and on the same creek, in Byron. He recollects one 
distillery at Lucas's mill, one at Scott's mill, one at Green's 
mill, one at the Rock school-house, one at the village, one 
at Adams' mill, and another east of Pumpkin Hill, and 



WYMAN KOAD. 109 

one at Polley's tavern. Whisky was as common as water 
in the good old days of tlie pioneers, and how they kept 
straight is truly a mystery. 

Samuel L. Stevens was born in 1801, and came into Clar- 
endon in 1813 with his father, John Stevens, and lived at first 
on the present lands of Daniel Barker, under a bark roof, 
with basswood floor, and a blanket for a door. The first stove 
Samuel remembers was the Wilson, and the Franklin, with 
open grate, for parlor. His first doctors were Henry and 
Silas Carver, from the village. Samuel L. Stevens passed 
into another country in 1887, having been nearly blind for 
some years, and dying daily in his miseries. 

When we turn to the west we shall enter the New Guinea 
road, which loses itself in the shades of Tonawanda. It 
was called New Guinea from the fact that the mother of 
Thomas Bolton had a guinea-hen, which generally followed 
her. This is a short road, of a mile or less in length, with 
a few houses to attract the eye. The first one is owned by 
Michael Murphy, on the north side, the second by the 
Widow Howard, and the third by Kate Mulraenall, of 
Holley, and Edwin Foster lives in the one once held by 
Eeuben Swan. Henry Mepsted has a house on the south, 
while Odell is his near neighbor. Isaac Swan, the father 
of Eeuben, took up one hundred acres in New Guinea, 
but has long since left its mosquito charms behind. His 
log-house is over sixty years old. 

Where Englishman, Chugg, is working among the "hog- 
backs," Eeuben Cooley was the pioneer, and here, also, 
James Vickery fiddled the lonely hours away ; and John 
McCullom, one of the shouters at Deacon Wilcox's, habi- 
tated here. The Mepsteds made this spot famous in their 
day. Where now John Eaub meets his German and Eng- 
lish friends, a Derby lived, who ought to have been a good 
racer, out of respect for the name. These lands were held 
by P. A. Albert, of Holley. Daniel Forbush waddled like 
8 



170 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

a goose on the Tousley road, of whom we will speak more 
fully in '' Chips." 

Cyrus Foster now holds the soil which Allen Hill had on 
the Tousley road, before he moved into Hastings, Michigan 
John McKnight lived on the Henry Crannell place, and, 
when he burnt out, put up a shanty with the roof resting 
on a wall of the highway. After Valentine Tousley had 
passed away, the father of Spencer, Simeon and Joshua 
Coleman had residence on the Tousley possessions, where 
now Henry Soles claims title. The Treat property was 
formerly in the hands of Amasa Patterson, who has retired 
from farming, and is now taking life very comfortably on 
Holley street, in Clarendon. 

The Milliken road, which enters the Wyman road from 
the west, has only a small house on the south side, on the 
knoll to the east of M. D. Milliken's, which belongs to 
George Swan. M. D. Milliken came from Keene, New 
Hampshire, April 23, 1840, in an open buggy, with leather 
springs, via the Green Mountains, to Troy, and west on the 
Albany and Buffalo turnpike to Rochester. Men were 
boiling sap in May on the Green Mountains, and higher up 
one fellow said they boiled all summer He stopped at the 
Farmers' Hotel in Rochester, and gave for meals and lodg- 
ing two shillings each, the whole distance. Milliken first 
stopped in Sweden, at John Reed's, who once owned the 
Chace property, on the Holley road, and at this time land 
was worth there fifty dollars per acre. In Clarendon he 
stopped at Alexander Milliken's, on the Sawyer road, the 
house new, and all things in fine condition, and his wife 
a very excellent woman. Milliken bought his present farm, 
on the Milliken road, for twenty dollars per acre, or $2,000 
for the 100 acres. The land was in a very bad shape, and 
he had to make fences, and clear about one-half of stumps 
and timber. There are now on the place white-oak posts 



WYMAN ROAD. 171 

of that day. The house was built years before, by Judge 
Zardeus Tousley. 

M. D. Milliken was born August 11, 1805, and is now, 
1888, one of the best and youngest-looking of the old men 
of Clarendon. In about 1830, Myron D. Snider, who was 
then living in Barre, came through the woods to Zardeus 
Tousley's, and was obliged to crawl under hemlock logs 
three or four feet through, there being no road west of 
Palmer's, and the way, even in summer, almost impassable. 
In those days Snider would go to Clarendon by the way of 
Mudville, the path or road through the woods by Ansel 
Knowles, on the Millard road. 

To the west of Milliken lives Abram Frederick, who for- 
merly lived on the Amos Palmer place, but who has resided 
here since 1866. William Avery cleared the most of the 
Abram Frederick lands, and across the way was one Jesse 
Griswold, who owned to the Tousley road. 

On the Ebenezer Reed place John Hamlin had a log- 
house in 1821. If he had any of the blue blood of Han- 
nibal in his veins, no one has shown us the origin. The 
small frame-house was built by Leonard Pratt, who left 
the country years ago. There was a wagon-shop where 
now Ira Kelsey has a fine residence, which he occu23ied 
until he moved into Murray. 

Over the way Riley Byington mended shoes, and now 
Otto Gaines has greatly improved his home here. On the 
south side of the Milliken road, west of the Tousley road, 
James Barbour resides, and his wife Lucy is one of the best 
school-teachers in town. 

The first settler on the Myron Snider place was Andrew 
Brown, who lived in a log-shanty with bark roof, and no 
chimney. His face was well tanned with the smoke, which 
he must have been too lazy to send out of his dwelling. For 
a time he stood up in the meetings here, and led the sing- 
ing. He cleared one or two acres about the cabin, and 



172 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

departed, leaving his name behind in the school district. 
After his exit came in another chorister, by the name of 
David Byington, who cleared up the Snider possessions. 

John Wetherbee lived on the Kelsey farm to the west of 
Brown's corners, and there was no other house in 1821 but 
Zaccheus Fletcher's, who lived just west of Barbour's. On 
the David Bridgman property, in 1821, was Elias Palmer, 
brother of Amos Palmer, and he was followed by his 
brother, who built the large frame-house. The living now 
cross where one graveyard rested, and little do they think 
of the bodies below. 

Amos Palmer was swallowed up by Orson Tousley, and 
now mortgagor and mortgagee are laid softly down by the 
final forecloser. Death. Bridgman came onto these lands 
in 1882, and has greatly improved their appearance. His 
wife brought some strawberry plants from Charlotte, and 
set out a fine bed of strawberries, and she was the first to 
bring regularly this fruit into the Clarendon market, where 
it has been sold for the past five years by Mathes, Cole and 
Copeland, as high as 1,400 quarts in one season. 

Back in the lot from William Rollings, who moved on 
to the Milliken road in 1882, and is a model farmer, was 
Sherman Bishop, who fiddled in the old nights at the coun- 
try dances. But the soul of his music has fled, the strings 
are broken, and we leave him to play on golden harps or 
violins in a better land. In 1821, Abner and Bradley 
Bishop were in this district. 

Across from Riley Byington's was a wagon-shop, which 
was converted into a barn, when John Westcott lived here. 
De Witt Cook built the Wells house, on the fourth of July, 
1850, and it was without windows until October of that 
year. Wells on his place since 1858. The orchards were 
set out by Palmer. 

Henry Soles has been on the old William Tousley place, 
on the Tousley road, since 1861, and he rebuilt the house. 



WYMAN ROAD. 



173 



The garden was cleared by Orson Tousley. Soles, a few 
years ago, had ninety of his apple-trees girdled by some 
villains unknown. 

Henry Crannell was on his place, on the Tousley road, 
since 1867, and passed away in 1888. The house was built 
by Nathaniel Austin. Mrs. Orannell has a churn of cedar 
that once belonged to Mrs. Jonathan Reed, and is now 
ninety-six years of age, and in present use. 

We have now taken the reader over all the roads to the 
Millard road and New Swamp road, and shall include these 
in our Barre road. The Wyman road, with its tributaries, 
passes through a different portion of Clarendon than we 
have heretofore described, both as to soil and general ap- 
pearance. The roads are rocky enough, as every traveler 
knows, and in the winter would be fearful, did not Tona- 
wanda shelter them from the blizzards. If this swamp, in 
time, be opened up, woe to the resident when the west and 
Bouth-west winds come howling down from their airy 
retreats. The law should come to the rescue and protect 
Clarendon from wood vandalism. 



174 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTER IX. 

BARRE ROAD. 

THE first mention of the Barre road, is a survey made 
April 21, 1815, by Zenas Case and Alanson Dudley, as 
highway commissioners for that year, of our part of the then 
Town of Sweden. This survey was to the transit line 
from Farwell's Mills. One of the first settlers on this road 
was Abner Hopkins, who, according to Amanda Annis, had 
a frame-house on what is now known as the Inman estate, 
and is the same house in which Amanda stayed with her 
parents over night in the year 1817, and may now be seen 
on the corner of Albion and Hulberton streets in Claren- 
don, the residence of S. Herbert Copeland. 

We shall begin our story with the narration of Manning 
Packard, who fell asleep in 1888. In 1819 Zebulon Pack- 
ard moved into a log dwelling, which he had purchased 
from Elder William Whitney, on what is now known as 
the Packard road, just to the north of the school-house at 
Manning or Lawton's Corners. This log-house stood 
where now the well of Bannister Packard gives forth its 
supplv of water ; and there were only a few acres cleared, 
the road then a path to the north, and the only road of any 
importance was the Barre road leading west to the Transit. 
Zebulon Packard took up one hundred acres, and Manning 
and the boys helped to clear up the land. Packard had a 
four-wheeled, double ox-wagon, from Ontario county, a 
baggage-wagon of the war of 1812, with six bullet-holes 
in its sides, the first of its kind in town, and he used it to 
draw black salts to Rochester to sell. 



BARRE ROAD. 175 

Abiier Hopkins, whom we have mentioned, came in 1811, 
and on his old place Philip Inman died, at the age of 86 
years, in 1887. The names of Abner and Jirah Hopkins 
appear upon the highway roll of 1821, in District No. 7, 
and with their brother Joseph, their lands extended to the 
** Corners," at the Christian church. 

The present house on the Philip Inman place was built 
by D. F. St. John, in 1864. Across the way from Abner 
Hopkins, Levi Preston dwelt in a log-house, and about 
sixty years since framed the old-fashioned structure which 
still stands, the property of the Inman estate. On this 
Preston place Samuel Knowles lived and died years ago. 
The old orchards on the Preston place were set out by Levi 
Preston and Samuel Knowles, and are old enough to lay 
down their lives for fire-wood. 

The first frame-barn on this road was Abner Hopkins', 
where the farmers were in the habit of taking their grain 
to be threshed by oxen and flails, and Fred A. Salsbury re- 
members, when a lad, of sitting in a tub to watch his 
father, Abraham W. Salsbury, while he threshed on this 
barn floor. West of Abner, Jirah Hopkins had a log- 
house, just to the north of the burying-ground, where a 
dump of apple-trees have stood in our day. 

The old frame-house of Simeon Coleman was built by 
Leander Hood, as was also the barn. Elijah Adams was 
here before Hood, to the west. The orchard was planted 
by Hood, he taking the trees from a nursery, on his back, 
two miles away. Hood gave only ten dollars an acre for 
this land, and the present owner, Simeon Coleman, $140. 
The log home of Joseph Hopkins was west of Hood's, 
across from the Christian parsonage, and one portion was 
filled with groceries, to supply the neighbors. 

Benjamin Gr. Pettengill came onto the Pe^tengill road, 
just south of F. A. Salsbury, in 1822, and cleared up the 
most of the land, and built the house in which Robert 



176 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Hibbard now resides. On the north side of the Barre road 
may be seen an old frame-house, which has the same color as 
fifty years ago. Here James Annis dwelt,, and his wife, having 
too much fire-water inside, tumbled into the fire-place, and 
ended her earthly career At present F. A. Salsbury makes 
this his home, with good out-buildings, and he can remem- 
ber the time when he was obliged to drive his stock over to 
Stony Point, back of Colonel May's, to get water. James 
Annis put out the first orchard, and Fred the younger 
trees. To the west, on the north, is an old red house 
which is almost ready to say"good-by" to wind and 
weather, and is now occupied by George Gaylord, the 
owner. This was the abode of Thomas Annis sixty years 
gone by. When the structure was raised the boys took 
their station on the front plate and called upon Daniel 
Austin to give it a name, which was then customary. 
Daniel called it ^^A fair blossom for fifty-two acres." 
This is one of the oldest houses on the Barre road, and, in 
our humble opinion, must have been put up by a strange 
character. For long years Budd Emery smoked his pipe 
peacefully under its roof, but, alas! death came and knocked 
the owner, with bowl and ashes, into the grave. 

The carpenters of this section were Eobert Rodgers, 
Manning Packard and the Preston brothers. The axe and 
adze have dropped noiselessly from their hands, and the 
old undertaker has snugly boxed their bodies in his house 
of clay. On the Pettengill road is the burying-ground, 
which we have mentioned in another chapter. The Ben- 
jamin G. Pettengill orchard, on this road, where Hibbard 
picks apples, is one of the oldest, having some sixty-six 
years on the bark. To the south of Pettengill's was John 
Russ, and he and Zephen F. Green were such mighty 
mowers that they had scytheg^made in Rochester six inches 
longer than the ordinary ones, to suit their brawny muscles. 
At the end of this road, on the Ebenezer Soles place, Elder 



BARRE ROAD. 17T 

William Whitney once read the good Book. The elder 
also prayed on the Grilman place, but his prayers are not to 
be found in that locality now. 

On the rise in the Barre road, to the west and north, 
Lewis Lawton, with his sons, Brad and Menzo, dwells, 
with all the tools necessary, through steam-poAver, to bring 
water out of the rocks at any depth. Alexander Annis 
came with his family onto this place in 1817, and his land 
reached to the " Corners.'' John Locke, for the orchard 
just near the house, brought the seed from Pennsylvania, 
and his first grafting was in 1820. Moses Holcomb had a 
log smithy at the " Corners," but his forge has been swept 
clean by death, and his horseshoe of good luck is now 
over Jordan. Across the way, some time after, was a frame- 
shop, where Vulcan had one of his sooty children. Elias 
Lawton had at first only a small shop, but soon walled the 
old stone one, where he chewed, forged and bellowed, until 
Time laid him up in the general repair-shop of the race, 
and ashes, cinders and dust alone remained to mark his 
footsteps. Now " Si" can be seen at the anvil in the new 
shop, and his hearty voice and laugh can be heard winter 
and summer. Here, also, Benjamin Winchester pegged 
soles and rasped souls upon his leathern bench, years before 
D. R. Bartlett filled the seat. 

Winchester built the old red house across from the church 
in 1841. Ira Bronson had a wagon-shop north of the 
church, and when Levi Mower was a lad, Ira invited him to 
learn the secrets of hubs and spokes. Southeast of Win- 
chester's, one Jerod lived, with his wife Sally and son 
James. One of the most noted characters at the " Cor- 
ners " was Valentine Smith, or ^^Val.," as the boys knew 
him. He could change a spavined, wind-broken, found- 
ered, knock-kneed, balky, one-eyed beast into the most 
perfect, safest, truest high-hooker quicker than any man in 



178 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

America, and, in the words of Daniel Webster, •' still 
lives," as honest as ever. 

The first tavern-keeper at the " Corners " was Alpha 
Omega Rose, whose stand was near the site of the church, 
and he had, while here, a branch of the Masonic organiza- 
tion. He afterward moved to Sandy Creek, and had a saw- 
mill near the ridge, to the west of the Hulberton road, now 
in ruins. The old log-shop of Manning Packard, which 
bears upon its sides the years since 1826, is still on the 
Packard road, but the traveler will hear no more his sledge- 
hammer blows, as pale Death knocked him out in 1888. 
The author has often walked into this humble shop, bend- 
ing his head at the low doorway, while at the forge was 
Manning, who always greeted him with that every-day look 
of welcome and candor. On one of his old chests we 
€ould sit, while his fine and truthful memory gave us much' 
material for this History of Clarendon, and he longed to 
see the day when its pages should meet his eye. But, alas! 
the unwelcome visitor came and bore away, this year, 1888, 
one of the most ingenious and original characters that 
Clarendon had in her borders, at the ripe age of seventy- 
seven. He knew the Packard road, and a large share of 
Clarendon, when the leaves of the grand old trees were 
Nature's organ-pipes, before the hum and buzz of busy 
labor had made the fields to echo with its music. Requiescat 
in 2^ace ! 

To the south of the log smithy was a frame shop, where 
Manning had a turning-lathe, and up-stairs a shoemaker's 
bench, with a full kit of tools, and on the wall an old 
thirty-hour clock which had no case, with long weights, 
whose dial had marked the hours since 1823. 

Zephen F. Green sharpened his scythe where now the 
church sheds stand, and subsequently Elder Brackett 
moved under the same roof, and listened to hear his wife 
bloAV the first and only dinner-horn of this region. Uriah 



BARRE ROAD. 179 

Beebe had a wagon-shop on the south-west corner at Mud- 
ville, and his house was under the same roof, and he made 
rakes for the farmers. 

Joseph Owens had a shoe-shop Just in front of Margaret 
Freer's place at the '^ Corners," and was a lone bachelor, 
who called upon Amanda Annis to make his bread, which 
she rose and baked in the best shape. 

Beyond Mudville Robert Owens had a log dwelling, and 
in later years put up the brick-house now owned by Wil- 
liam 0. Cruttenden. In this house John Millard resided, 
and opened wide his doors to ministers, when they were 
poor, and they were as welcome here as the flowers of 
May. 

Millard made braided whips and weaver's reeds in his 
day. Where Eli Evarts grows fat in farming, Orrin Daven- 
port had a shoe-shop, and kept the size of many a damsel's 
foot a most profound secret. Gardiner Nay had a log- 
house near by, which has long since returned to its native 
elements. Eli Evarts built his fine house in 1873, and the 
barns were rigged out in good style in 1877. 

Where lately the large willow-trees spread their branches, 
John Hampton was the first resident, — an old revolutionary 
soldier. Manning Packard was present at his decease, and 
closed the eyes of one who dared to look the British lion 
in the face. Hampton brought these old willows as whips, 
when he came into town, and his hands set them out. He 
was a very large and powerful man, whom the red-coats 
feared to tackle. 

Across from Hampton's, Eli Evarts, Sen., had posses- 
sions, which extended to the Transit. Here were born 
Dennis and Martin, now gone, — who have owned portions 
of the land of their father. John Bentley, on the New 
Swamp road, which points to the south, had at one time a 
very large ox-team, which he thought would out-pull any 
other in the neighborhood. Eli Evarts, Sen., had a small 



180 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

ox-team which he hitched against Bentley's, and taking a 
prod sent them forward." If Bentley had not soon hal- 
looed, "Whoa, Buck!" his yoke would have soon been 
dragged at the heels of Evarts' small pair. 

The Transit was surveyed in 1798, by Joseph Ellicott, 
with instruments, from Batavia, and was so called because 
it was the dividing line between the Holland Land Com- 
pany's tract, and the Connecticut jourchase. The first well 
drilled in town, was put down by hand, on the land of 
Alexander Annis, two men working at the drill. 

On the premises of Mrs. Culver was a building which 
the Christians used as a parsonage. Just north of this 
house one Gillham swung the sledge, and his work, which 
still remains, bears evidence of his skill. Moses Decker 
had a log-house in a pasture lot west of the Martin Evarts 
place. 

Michael Bennett was one of the first on the Hindsburgh 
road, which leads to the north from the Barre road, beyond 
Eli Evarts. He put out the first orchard on this road, 
bringing the seeds from Connecticut. His home is now 
owned by Josiah Lawton. Darius Warwick was a good 
shoemaker, who reposed to the north of the log-house oc- 
cupied by B. F. Mowers, before he moved to Batavia. 

In 1821 Simeon Kingsbury owned the Crittenden place, 
the frame-house of which was burnt by a lamp explosion, 
in November, 1888. Warwick made a fine laced pair of 
shoes out of morocco, for Amanda Annis, when she was a 
girl. Keuben Bennett, who also lived on this road, bot- 
tomed a chair for Henry Bennett when he was over sev- 
enty years of age, which is still serviceable. 

Reuben and Michael Bennett cut a foot-path where now 
the Hindsburgh road passes, and were in the habit of going 
to Rochester for flour, when first coming into town, and 
this road was named by them in memory of Jacob and 
Joel Hinds, who were the chief merchants of Hindsburgh. 



BAREE ROAD. 181 

Alvah Russ, in trying to break a young steer, put a neck- 
yoke around his neck, and the animal nearly put an end to 
his life, as a reward for his cunning. When Reuben Ben- 
nett came through the woods to the Hindsburgh road, his 
wife was the teamster and plied the ox-gad. 

William C. Root and his wife came onto this road in 
1831, and they lived on the old home sixteen years, when 
Elijah Root rebuilt the house. The fine maple trees 
were set out by William 0. Root, and are now forty years 
of age. 

Alexander Annis had the first sleigh on the Barre road, 
which he brought from Springfield in this State. Ebenezer 
Soles raised the upright of his house on the Pettengill 
road, in 1876, and moved the other part from the Millard 
road in 1858, in the winter on runners. Wellington Mead 
was in the Hibbard place in 1858, and left in 1868. Joshua 
Coleman lived on the Gillman, or Barker place, in 1838, 
which is to the south of the Hibbard place. 

The first currants on the Barre road, the mother of 
Amanda Annis brought with her in 1817, and set them out 
in 1818 on the Alexander Annis property. The Barre 
road is joined to the south by the Pettengill road, Millard 
road, and New Swamp road ; and on the north by the Sals- 
bury road, Packard road, and Hindsburgh road. The Sals- 
bury road diverges to the north just west of F. A. Sals- 
bury's, striking the Webster road which leads to the west, 
and the Allen road leading to the east, to join the Hul- 
berton road. 

In 1822 Abraham W. Salsbury bought out Elijah Slocum, 
on what is now called the Levi Mower property, on the 
west side of the Salsbury road. He gave Slocum in ex- 
change all that he possessed in Sweden, and received in 
return one three-pail kettle, and a pork-barrel, which must 
have been, as the horse-jockeys say, "a very heavy swap." 
Salsbury had at this time about fifty acres on the west, and 



182 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

lived in Slocum's rude shanty until he put up a new log- 
house, where he whiled the hours away until he built the 
present frame structure. Slocum's shanty at first had no 
floor, with only one room, below, and a ladder leading aloft, 
where Fred and the other lads crawled under blankets. 
The floor in the new log-house was of basswood, notched, 
and the backlogs for the fire-place were drawn in by horses, 
while the bed-posts were made by Salsbury, and strijDS of 
elm bark served as cords. The chairs were all home-made, 
the seats plaited with bark. Sheets hid from view the 
sleepers below, and this fashion led to curtains and recesses, 
which are again coming into style. Mrs Salsbury wove for 
David Sturges, so that she might get money enough to 
buy feed for her hens, which speaks volumes for her liege 
lord. 

Before the Erie canal was opened Salsbury sold wheat in 
Kochester at three shillings per bushel, and one individual 
was so mad at this price that he dumped his wheat into the 
canal, where it was building. In those days the grain was 
weighed on large steelyards, as platform-scales are of mod- 
ern invention. The upright to the present Levi Mower 
house was raised by Salsbury, some twenty years after the 
log, and the addition was attached in 1847. The land was 
mostly cleared by Salsbury and his sons, and the orchard 
was his handiwork. Salsbury was a soldier in the war of 
1812, had a land-warrant, which he sold to Allen Hill for 
$160, and he was in one battle where he scrabbled hard for 
his life. 

In the north lot of Fred Salsbury, on the east, lived 
Eleazer Slocum, in a log-hut, which passed away many 
moons ago. On the John Preston place, to the north, Pelcg 
Slocum had a double log-house, which he transferred to Guy 
Salsbury, who in after years erected the mansion which 
now rules the land. The orchards on the Preston place 
were partly planted by Slocum, and the remainder by 



BARRE ROAD. 183 

George S. Salsbury. Rodney Kingsbury bought out Daniel 
Austin, who once resided across from the home of Stephen 
Salsbury. 

George S. Salsbury bought out William and Jerry Aus- 
tin, who were located in the north orchard of Stephen 
Salsbury, and George afterward built the stone house where 
Stephen Salsbury has his home. George S. Salsbury had a 
stationary threshing-machine, a remarkable fact. George 
also built the Matthew Oaton house, where the jolly Eng- 
lishman, John Gaylord, who once served in the gallant 
99th regiment of the British army, now labors peacefully, 
hearing no more the roll of the drum or the musketry's 
rattle. These lands were cleared by George S. Salsbury, 
and the orchards breathe his name. When William Austin 
lived on this road he saw a bear-cub, and, thinking to cap- 
ture it, jumped onto a log, when old Bruin took off a por- 
tion of his long shirt, which he wore as an outer garment. 

Abel Hubbard mortared his stone building, where Edward 
Allen now lives, on the Allen road, some fifty-five years ago, 
and left the property to his sons, who lost it in the crooked 
snares of pettifoggers. Hubbard's land reached to the 
Murray line on the north. 

Just south of the orchard on the Norton Webster place, 
on the Webster road, Deacon Lemuel Pratt, a member of 
the Presbyterian church at Holley, resided. Pratt had the 
first stationary threshing-machine in this section, and it 
was said that he would lay rail-fence Sunday night, after 
sunset — the old Puritan rule. Daniel Brackett took up this 
land in 1819. Lemuel Pratt had the reputation of being a 
very honest deacon, which is an exception in the rule. 

Daniel Austin once held the land now governed by James 
Potter, and on the John Allen place, on the Allen road, 
was David French, who has flown into another country. 
North of Zebulon Packard's, on the Packard road, was 



184 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Brackett Austin, on the farm where William Beck grows 
jolly in the dust of years. 

William Bennett possessed, in an early day, the lands of 
William C. Root, on the Hindsburgh road, and was one of 
the numerous Bennett family. The deserted log-house of 
B. F. Mowers, on the Hindsburgh road, was built by 
Daniel F. Austin, and this family was very numerous. On 
the Widow Baldwin place was Jeremiah Austin, but his 
light was snuffed out by the old snuffer away back. Joseph 
Ryant's lands extended to the Murray line, on the east side 
of the Hindsburgh road. 

The new Swamp road, which extends into the swamp 
to the south, and joins the Ward road, had John Bent- 
ley on the west side, and on the east Jeremiah Ward put 
up his stick chimney. The house which George Graylord 
lately occupied, at the edge of the swamp, was raised by 
Pantnaud, a Frenchman, and was for years under the own- 
ership of Elijah Adams. Philip Inman bought out Jere- 
miah Ward in 1826, and in a few years purchased fifty acres 
more of Bentley. At this time there was only twelve acres 
cleared on the Ward place, and Inman paid Ward eleven 
dollars per acre for his purchase. Ward had put out fifty 
npple-trees on this land, prior to Inman's occupancy. In- 
man bought Bentley's land for fifteen dollars an acre, which 
serves to show the low price of real estate in that day. 
Bentley raised one of the barns, and Inman the other. In 
due time Inman bought out Birch, on the estate of Levi 
Brackett, who lived where now Eli Evarts has his home. 
Inman moved the Bentley house out onto the Barre road, 
and the same house may now be seen on the Millard road, 
across from the Benjamin Pettengill property. The Brack- 
ett land was mostly cleared, and, under Inman's cultiva- 
tion, has raised as high as forty bushels of wheat to the 
acre. 

When the Erie canal was completed the price of wheat 



BARRE ROAD. 185 

advanced, and Inman hauled his wheat to HoUey, and never 
received less than four shillings per bushel. He sold oats 
as low as eighteen cents in trade, and paid two shillings a 
bushel for corn to feed, there being no market for this 
cereal before the canal. Barley was not raised, as there 
was then no market for beer-drinkers, whisky being good 
enough for the old-timers, and, having once raised wheat, 
the farmers keep up the habit. Inman drew wheat to 
HoUey in 1827, the warehouse then on the east of the Fris- 
bie blockj on the banks of the old canal, and he was obliged 
to cross a plank and carry the bags of grain on his shoul- 
ders up a double flight of stairs before dumping. He has 
been known by his neighbors to carry a two-bushel bag of 
wheat on his back to the mills in Clarendon, and this may 
serve to explain why his body was doubled up as a jack- 
knife. 

The old warehouse in Holley was built by Aarao Ham- 
lin, the prince-merchant of that day. In 1839, when Jack 
Reed was unloading his wheat, the team backed off the 
gangway, falling fifteen feet, killing the horses and smash- 
ing the wagon. 

Inman worked in the harvest-field when he was twenty- 
one years of age, for fifty cents a day, and Fred Salsbury 
has reaped with his sickle, from sun to sun, for seventy-five 
cents; and since that time harvesters have received as high 
as $^2.50 for the same labor, and with a cradle or reaper. 
The old Bentley house was moved for Inman by George 
Pullman, Sr., and his son, who is now worth his millions 
as the Pullman sleeper inventor, but who owed the idea to 
Ben Fields, of Albion, who died poor. 

The first plates in the Salsbury home were turned out 
of wooden knots, and scoured daily by Fred's mother. 
When Fred was a younker, he took the old cat and pro- 
ceeded to roast her in the fire-place ; but the mother, smell- 
ing the burning fur, came in and rescued puss, giving this 



186 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

young barbarian the '^Rapsay darbey." Guy Salsbury, 
from five bushels of seed-wheat, on ten acres of his land, 
raised 550 bushels of wheat, which John Angus cradled. 
Fred Salsbury has now in his possession a sickle nearly 
sixty years old. Blackberries have been known to blossom 
on the Salsbury lands in the month of March, in the good 
old times. 

The carding in the Salsbury house was done by the 
mother, and latterly the wool was taken to Bushnell & 
Pennell's factory, which was once a distillery in Holley, 
where one could take a swig as if it were cider. The flax 
was raised for linen by the early settlers, and was first 
broken by a rude machine with slats, then with a swing- 
ling-knife, the fibers hatcheled, then the distafi", and lastly 
spun by the women. 

Fred Salsbury, when he was sixteen, attended church at 
Mudville barefooted, shoes being too fine for warm days. 
His father "whipped the cat" from house to house, while 
Fred at times was kept busy whittling pegs out of soft- 
maple, and would season them at the fire-place. Many of 
these farmers made large quantities of maple sugar, which 
would be used in the place of brown, or muscovado, and 
when there was any sale the price would reach six cents a 
pound. 

Of the old settlers that we have mentioned, Manning 
Packard was born in 1810, and C. Bannister Packard in 
1813, and Philip Inman was born July 4, 1800. Ephraim 
and John Preston once lived on the lands now owned by 
Willie Stackhouse, and they sold to Caleb Hallock, and he 
traded to old Job Potter for lumber in Pennsylvania. He 
also built the old red school- house of the Hubbard district, 
for $250. 

Amanda Ann is sewed for two shillings a day, making 
coats, pants and vests, when she was fourteen or fifteen 
years of age. The stone-house of Stephen Salsbury was 



BARRE ROAD. 



187 



built in 1836, and Stephen has lived here since that date. 
He, with his father, George S., put out twenty-two acres of 
orcharding on the north and east, in 1862, and is now 
(1888) in fine bearing condition. 

John Gaylord came onto his place in 1884. Levi Mower 
has held the A. W. Salsbury farm since 1876. Alva Blanch- 
ard, of the Root road, nine years previous. John L. Pres- 
ton lived on his lands for thirty-five years ; and the house 
was repaired in 1863, and John built the barns. Mrs. 
Ar;na Preston came onto this place in 1874. She has blue- 
and-white woolen blankets, woven by John's mother over 
fifty years ago, and has a wedding ring of Mrs. John Pres- 
ton of sixty years. John Preston and Chester Preston 
cleared the Joseph Corbin place in Kendall, at the lake ; 
and the barns are sixty years old, with the same shingles, 
all covered with moss. 

The present occupants of the territory where the old set- 
tlers toiled from early morn till dusk, to clear away the 
timber, now reap the reward of such industry, and in their 
pleasant homes can laugh at the storms, and rejoice when 
Spring comes, bursting, budding, blossoming m with its 
sunny smiles and babbling waters. 

The road which looks to the south near the Christian 
church, we have honored with the name of Millard, from 
good old John, whose home is now in heaven. He came 
from Fabius, Onondaga county, in 1823, and for a time 
was in the home of Elizur Warren, on the Brockport road, 
and afterward, as we have shown, on the Harmon-Wads- 
worth property, and moved onto this road, which we shall 
now describe: 

The Millard road leaves the Barre road at the Christian 
church, and passes to the south until it joins the Millikin 
road, of which we have written. The only road which 
joins it is the Ward road, that diverges at William Housel's, 
and leading to the westward swings around the Transit to 



188 ■ HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the south. On the Millard road not one of the old settlers 
is now living, and all the information we have gained has 
been from Manning Packard, with now and then a thought 
from the children of those pioneers. 

In 1819 the first log-house south of the church was 
occupied by Amos Salmon, who lived to the east of the 
present highway, and his name appears upon the roll of 
1821. Benjamin G. Pettengill, after leaving the Pettingill 
road, moved outo this road and built the house now occu- 
pied by the widow of Andrew Salsbury and her son Alvah, 
and this farm has a good outlook from any point of the 
•compass, and is one of the best in the western portion of 
the town. 

Beyond Salsbury's once lived, on the same side of the 
highway, the noted Jacob Omans, a bear-hunter and hon- 
est fisherman, who put assafcetida on his bait to lure the 
finny tribe. Omans set out apple-trees in 1823, one for 
^ach member of his family. He shot one of the largest 
bears in this region, which was so weighty that the end- 
board of the wagon was taken out to allow the carcass 
room to enter. His old musket is now at Hiram Ward's, 
on the VV"ard road, and has had two new stocks during its 
<iay. 

On the old Benjamin Pettengill place, John Millard 
lived in 1827, and the present house was built by Drake, 
from Pine Hill, in 1851. This farm has ever been well 
cultivated, and has produced the largest of crops. Benja- 
min Pettengill now resides in Holley, with his son-in-law, 
Abram L. Salsbury, and the lands are worked by Barney 
Bailey, who has a fine family, and his children are well 
known at the Manning school-house. Pettengill's wife 
was a very estimable woman, and passed away when the 
author was a lad. 

Across the way to the east, Luke Ward had a log habi- 
tation and now the finest of crops are raised where his 



BARKE ROAD. 



18^ 



cabin stood. Samuel Wetherbee came onto his place in 
1828, and had a log-house at first, until he raised the large 
frame-house in 1836, which was the labor of Amaziah Pet- 
tengili Samuel Wetherbee dwelt here until his death, at 
the age of 79, a man who was esteemed by all the residents 
of Clarendon. His father, John Wetherbee, also passed 
away here, and his brother John moved to Michigan. This 
land is now held by David Wetherbee, the shoemaker, of 
the village, who had his home here when a boy. 

To the south of Pettingill one Loomis resided, when the 
country was new. Old Dr. Cowing lived on this road, and 
was well known to all the boys and girls in town, by his 
long white beard, and strong staff. He was a botanical 
physician of the old school, and no one better knew the 
nature of the different roots and herbs that grew in the 
swamp, or in the fields of our town. But his boiling is 
now over, the last dose has been given, and he, too, has 
been gathered to his fathers, at the ripe age of 86. His old 
house Abram L. Salsbury owned at twenty, and as it now 
stands was built by Mauning Packard. 

Above Samuel Wetherbee a Methodist minister prayed, 
by the name of Lyman Humphrey. To the south and 
east a white house stands, which was erected at the expense 
of Samuel Knowles, who lived previously on the Byron 
road. He had a frame dwelling here, one and a half stories 
high, which gave way to the one now standing, which w^as 
mortised by John Angus, of the Mohawk Valley, in 1851. 
Sam Knowles, and his wife Eunice, first began to keep 
house in the old log-house owned by Joseph Sturges, on 
the Byron road, where Adelbert Carr sows his grain. They 
had a whole set of pewter dishes, which would please the 
aristocrats of Eifth Avenue, at this day. The first carpet 
that Eunice had she wove with her own hands, and it was 
made from woolen rags ; and she also wove woolen blankets 
to cover the sleepers. The first stove in this house was 



190 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

from Le Roy, and had two griddles, with a fire-place in 
front ; and this stove would burn chunks. 

Sarah Ann, the wife of Levi Mower, when a girl, before 
carpets, would take the gray sand out of the fields, and 
after it was well crushed, made diamonds and squares in 
the best room, which, like mosaic work, must have pre- 
sented a fine appearance. The south orchard on this place 
was set out by Samuel Knowles. He was the shoemaker 
of this road, and made shoes for the girls, out of boot-legs, 
the style low, and laced with leather strings. He afterward 
moved onto the Barre road and died, as we have stated. 
Sarah Ann and Lydia Knowles took a peck basket full of 
eggs from this home on the Millard road, when ten to 
fourteen years of age, walking the whole distance, and 
returning, which would make the girls of 1888 sick for a 
week. Sarah Ann and Hannah only received four to six 
shillings a week for house-work, and if they visited the 
sick the time was taken out of their wages; and when 
Hannah was ten years of age, some good woman would 
give her ten cents a week to mind the baby, and all these 
wages, up to seventeen, went into the father's pocket to 
pay for the farm. 

James Myers, a colored man, once a slave in the sunny 
South, also lived on these lands. His wife was a genuine 
old mammy, of the jet-black variety, and her laugh would 
drive away the blues if one had them. Myers was one of 
the best citizens of Clarendon, and followed the first pen- 
ny's advice, of " minding his own business." But these 
shadows upon the dial of society have departed, and for 
years the land was owned by George Lilikendie, who lost 
his life on a railroad-crossing, trying to save his cow, and 
now John Downs, the Mayor of Holley, has the title 
deeds. 

Alvin Ogden once slept in a log-shanty, where now 
George Medell has a house of modern architecture. Across 



BARRE ROAD. 191 

the way from John Downs, lately stood an old frame-house 
with a porch in front, where Orson I'ousley once figured 
in partial-payments, and Amos Palmer and Abram Fred- 
erick lived in the dusty past. Horace Farwell, the son of 
Eldredge Farwell, rode up from Holley one fine day, and 
purchased this property. The old residents would not 
know the spot, as Farwell moved to the rear the old dwell- 
ing, and in its place erected a fine residence, which is an 
ornament to the road, and only shows what Young Amer- 
ica will do, when it has a chance. 

To the east was a log-shanty in 1821, with a flat bass- 
wood roof, where John Eussell managed to exist in the 
wilderness, and he came into town in 1819 from Massachu- 
setts. Farther to the south, near the residence of William 
S. Housel, Ansel Knowles was the first settler, and after- 
wards David S. Reed held possession. Knowles was 
also a shoemaker, but his pegs have all drawn, and he is 
lasting and fitting among the angels. Now Housel can 
look for miles upon a country rich in resources, which was 
in Knowles's day only an unbroken forest. 

John Bogart also lived here in 1860, and Housel bought 
from him in 1861, and built his house in 1861. Bogart 
had a son by the name of John, who lost a new whip at 
Brockport, and when he returned, his father gave him such 
a tongue-lashing, that the boy, about fifteen, went through 
the east orchard, and after giving away his jack-knife to 
his younger brother, and telling him not to follow him, 
jumped over the fence and shot a hole in his breast, and 
the whole neighborhood, after about three days, found his 
body, black and ghastly where he had fallen. The father 
placed above the spot a young maple, which is now about 
thirty feet high and one foot in diameter, a beauty growing 
out of blood. Housel set out the west and south-east 
orchards, nearly ten acres; also the shade-trees, and did the 
terracing, and to-day this is one of the finest places in all 



192 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Clarendon. Honsel came into New York from New Jer- 
sey, fifty-six years ago, and from Tompkins county moved 
into the Town of Yates, in Orleans county. He was 
born in 1816, and is now rosy-cheeked, and has one of the 
best families in town. 

Where Jeremiah Palmer had a frame-house, James Pres- 
ton had his home long years in the past. In his shop he 
made looms and spinning-wheels for all that came, and, no 
doubt, many of these old traps are stowed aAvay in some 
garret; and at a late auction one was bought by Ed. Mur« 
phy for ten cents. Preston's name Avill be found in the 
election records, and was so much of a politician that one 
of his neighbors, when asked how he would vote, replied : 
" I don't know, you will have to ask Preston ; I vote as he 
does ! " 

Just to the north of the Brown school-house is Charles 
Wilson, who is very comfortably located, and is well known 
as the mover of buildings. He moved his first house for 
Amos Wetherbee, in 1859, and has continued to so labor 
up to date. He had not one penny in 1862, and has since 
that time built his house and barns, and made many other 
improvements, all showing his industry and push. 

Old Jacob Omans was in the war of 1812, and stood 
seven drafts. He shot the last buck Avhich was seen in 
this region, and the horns are now at Hiram Ward's, and 
Mrs. Hiram Ward has often seen deer crossing near the site 
of the Brown school-house. Amanda Annis saw a deer in 
1840 on the Samuel Knowles place, which made the cattle 
jump, and the boys chased it down the road, bareheaded,, 
towards the Christian church. 

West of Ansel Knowles, at the present home of Hiram 
Ward, on the Ward road, in 1821, Asdel Nay, who loved 
to be called " Squire," thought over his neighbors' heavy 
grievances. Abner Bishop, the blacksmith, hammered out 
hoes on this road, which sold for one dollar at the '^ Mills."^ 



BAERE ROAD. 193 

The Ward house was sided by Bishop, and has an aged 
appearance, while the well has the same old sweep, the only 
one in town. 

To the west, Ira Richmond at first had the Adam Richey 
place, and Adam built the house where Fred Putnam lives, 
in 1857, the very year he passed away. Putnam came here 
in 1859, and he put out the orchard and shade- trees, con- 
verting this into a handsome property. Charles Burgin, a 
German, has the last place to the Transit, and he is doing 
all in his power tc improve the land. 

The New Swamp road, which comes into the Ward from 
the Barre road, was marked out many years ago, but was 
suffered to lie unopened until 1885 and 1886, when John 
Crossett and Lewis A. Lambert, as highway commission- 
ers, pushed this road through the swamp, but the passage- 
way is little used, and the labor was hardly worth the cost, 
— over one thousand dollars. 

There in one road which looks to the west from the 
Hindsburgh road, near the William 0. Root place, where 
one can stop and chat with Tip Johnson, who lost his leg 
in the Grand Army, in the civil war. We shall call this 
the Johnson road, for Tip has made great improvements 
with his wooden-leg and U. S. pension, and he is truly 
entitled to much praise. Formerly, before the new road 
was cut through to the north of Tip, this was considered 
the short-cut to Albion, and even now many prefer its pas- 
sage through the swamp. 

On the Millard road Amos Salmon was known as a very 
large and lazy man, and his wife would go into the forest 
and chop with him, cutting off her end of the log first, 
and would chop down trees while he was snoring. What 
a Xantippe she would have been to poor Socrates ! Asdel 
Nay, on the Ward road, held lawsuits in his house, and was 
so very tall that he could reach from his judicial bench 
and take any one disturber of litigation by his nether ex- 
9 



194 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

tremities, and hold him up to the gaze of the admiring 
multitude. 

Jeremiah Wood lived west of Putnam's in 1821, to the 
south. There were in the woods a large number of wild- 
cats, and they would make mince-meat of the curs of the 
neighborhood. The butter, in these golden days, tasted 
very strongly of wood-leeks, and many families could only 
have it, bad as it was, in the summer. 

When Jacob Omans came onto his place on the Millard 
place, in 1814, the country was an unbroken wilderness, 
and must have been a fine land for him to sport in, with 
his gun loaded with buck-shot, which he generally kept 
ready, to the amusement of his eleven children, and Mary- 
land wife. His old nag has laid her bones to rest where 
the crows once had a feast; and the little one-horse wagon 
no longer stops in front of the old stone store in Clarendon, 
to let out this gray-haired veteran. The water still mur- 
murs down the Sandy, as it did in his day, but the shadow 
of his form no longer troubles the scaly brood. 

One by one the old stagers are dropping down behind 
life's curtain, and ere long their footsteps will he heard no 
more in the theater of nature, each one saying " Good-by " 
as he takes his exit. 



HULBERTON ROAD. 195 



CHAPTEE X. 

HUI. BERTON ROAD. 

THIS road, which has Hulberton, or Scio, as it was for- 
merly called, to the north, passes out of the village of 
Clarendon by a beautiful grove of maple and beech, well 
known to the campers as Copeland's Grove. These woods 
are a great protection to the inhabitants from the rude 
blasts which howl in the winter from the northwest, and 
the whole territory was at one time in the Sturges estate. 
The Hulberton road has the Allen road, by Anson Salsbury, 
to the north and west, and the Sawyer road to the east, 
which is joined by the Hood road leading into the Holley 
road to the east of Jeremiah Harwick's. 

In 1821 Seth Knowles had taxed against him ten days of 
highway labor, and he made his home in the large 
frame house to the north of Copeland's Grove. Matt 
Smith has lately erected a fine residence under the shadow 
of the lofty maples, where he can smile at the winds which 
blow from the southwest, while across the way Carman and 
his aged dame pass away the hours alone in their glory. 
Seth Knowles must have come on to this road at a very 
early date, but no one is left to give us the advent, and we 
must leave this for the unknown. He was the father of 
Remick Knowles, who died the dark morning of 1855, 
when many thought that the end of time had come, and 
the whole creation of Clarendon looked in astonishment. 
Seth Knowles, Jr., was one of the masons on the Universalist 
church at Clarendon, the stone school-house, the Farwell 
Mills, and worked at his trade in the City of Eochester. 



196 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

The Knowles house is now owned by Guy Bowen, and is 
one of the oldest farm dwelhngs in town. The old orchards 
date away back in the past, and have the appearance of 
being as old as any on this road, and would whisper the 
name of Knowles if they could only speak. 

Over the way Horace Peck came, in 1816, to Leonard 
Foster's rude home, who settled here about 1814, and cleared 
up the territory. Leonard Foster was a cooper by trade, 
and made all the neighbors demanded, down to a water- 
pail. Henry Oady remembers of getting at his shop, when 
a boy, an apple-sauce barrel for his father, Isaac Cady, 
which was large at the bottom and small at the top ; which 
demonstrates that his people had no other sauce in those 
days, or were great lovers of the apple, which they used in 
the place of leek butter to spread on their bread. Leonard 
Foster took up 100 acres here, and along with him came 
William Nay, who also took the same quantity of soil, 
and was the first lime-burner in the kiln, whose remains 
may be seen across from John Riddler's to the east, and 
the little house was his home back in the lot ; and where 
now Charles, the son of Thomas Turner, resides, Erastus 
Cone formerly abode, and his name is in the town book of 
1821. 

When Thomas Turner came to this country he took the 
stage from Peterboro, New Hampshire, to Troy, and then 
on a line-boat on the Erie Canal to Holley. with Jacob 
Hines as captain, in 1833, and the whole fare on the canal 
for himself and wife, George and Charles, was $5.76, hav- 
ing good board and excellent accommodations. Turner 
first stopped at Alexander Millikin's, on the old home- 
stead, and his boy George now owns this place. 

Afterward Turner bought out Deacon Lemuel Pratt, on 
the AVebster road, and in time the lands of William Nay, 
on this road. He built the house where Charles now lives 
in 1855, and James Winn was the carpenter. The orchards 



HULBERTON ROAD. 197 

on this place bear the marks of many years, and Nay and 
Cone were nndoubtedly the planters. 

The home of Anson Salsbury to the north was at first 
the home of John Cone, who took up a whole lot here, and 
he set out the orchard. Abram W. Salsbury can remember 
when he came here as a small lad to get apples, and would 
take them home in his handkerchief, it being one of the 
first bearing orchards that he knew. Cone's lands joined 
the Salsbury on the west, and he was the first owner in 
town of a large quantity of bees, which made him well 
known. Once upon a time he had a bee-hive stolen, and 
meeting a certain neighbor he jumped into his cart and 
said: '*I had a bee-hive stolen last night. God knows 
who, I know who, and another man knows who took it." 
The next night there was a tap at the door, and this same 
individual with whom he rode came to settle for the hive. 

In 1821 John Cone was the largest land-holder in this 
district. The house in which Anson Salsbury lives on this 
place was built by Alvah Ogden, who moved to HoUey and 
kept a hotel, and when he joined the church he took his 
whisky out on the public square to burn, but too much 
of water in the fluid put out the fire, which should have 
taught subsequent landlords at this place honesty. 

On the Bowdoin McCrillis property Nathaniel Smith had 
residence, and in 1821 his log-house had a stone chimney, 
the only one in town, the others of sticks and earth. Smith 
was a fine officer in the militia training days. Bowdoin 
McCrillis came on to his place in 1833, and his sons, George 
and Adelbert, put out the fine maples on the highway to 
the east in 1848. In 1833 the timber on the east portion 
of the McCrillis farm was very large, and the basswoods 
grew to a great height. The house was built in 1850, by 
James Winn, and the owner is now. John Downs, of Holley. 
In 1849 George McCrillis sailed out of New Bedford on a 
whaler, the old Leonidas, Captain Gifford. He left the 



198 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

vessel at Port Louis, in Mauritius, and swam ashore with 
his dunnage strapped to his back, and was taken in the 
night below the bell-buoy by the current some three miles. 
He managed to secrete himself, although the natives were 
hunting him down as one would a slave, under promise of 
a large reward. He afterward shipped on board the sloop 
of war Plymouth, homeward bound, under Commodore 
Voorhies and Captain Gedney. She mounted 24 guns, and 
carried 310 men. He next cruised on the old Jamestown, 
on the coast of South America, for 34 months, between 
Bahia and Rio Janeiro. The Jamestown had a race with 
the English mail clipper, the Brilliant, when the James- 
town took the wind out of her sails, and left the Brilliant 
with her sails flapping to the leeward. George ran away 
at Honolulu, but was caj^tured, and once more trod the deck 
as a sailor. 

Bowdoin McCrillis, in his day, was one of the prominent 
Democrats of Clarendon, but he has gone now where elec- 
tions have but little influence on the mind, as the govern- 
ment is under the control of one Master only. His wife, 
who passed away a short time ago, was one of the good 
women of the town, beloved by all who knew her. Michael 
McCrillis was a very intelligent man, and his son John, of 
Holley, had no equal among the people of that vicinity for 
depth of brain and sterling good sense. 

A short distance from the McCrillis barns once lived 
Leonard Howard, who had a blacksmith-shop here. When 
he was two seas over with liquor, his muscle would rise, and 
he would exclaim, as he reached out for some victim : '^ I 
feel like tow all on fire," and on such occasions he would 
give his friends sledge-hammer blows which he would call 
" love-taps." Howard was very powerful, and ready for a 
fight when he once became red hot. But old Death hit 
him hard in the breast, and in the last round left him life- 
less in a dusty corner. 



HULBERTON ROAD. 199 

On the northwest corner of this road Riisco pounded the 
anvil, but the neighbors, hating his wife, pulled down the 
shanty one night over their heads, and Rusco left for parts 
unknown. Across the way Broden resided for a time, and 
who said " that he would go to the saw-mill raising in 
Holley if he slept in hell that night." He went and lost 
his life, but just where he slept that night we have no means 
of saying. Beyond Broden's, back in the lot on the east 
side, Isaac Cady took up and cleared 45 acres. He was 
overseer of this district in 1821. In the old cabin Henry 
Cady was born, in 1822, and he can recollect of the wolves 
howling around when there was only a blanket for a door, 
and his father away in Caledonia. Melvin Freer now owns 
the Cady home of those days. 

On the west side of the road, where the widow Smith 
resides, Tryon and Bond had homes. The Smith house 
was moved by Henry Cady from the premises of Thomas 
Turner to its present location. When the aqueduct for 
the new canal at Holley was built, stonecutters carved out 
material on this Smith portion of the Cady possessions. 

On the Sawyer road, which leads to the east, Alvah Ogden 
built the frame house which Henry Cady now calls his 
home. Beyond is the solid mansion which Alexander Mil- 
liken erected, and now in the hands of George Turner. 
Rogers lived here at a very early day, but whether he had 
anything to do with the old song which says, '' Roger will 
be there," deponent knoweth not. One of his sons was 
killed while robbing a bird's-nest. Henry Cady's orchard 
was set out by Ezriah Miller, and the McCrillis orchard 
was the work of John Ogden, and their labors do follow 
them. 

George Turner had his old barn destroyed by fire, but has 
raised a new barn of the present improved style, which is 
really an increased value to the old Milliken farn;, and 
proves that fires are sometimes a decided benefit. 



200 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

John L. McCrillis has his home on the south side of the 
Sawyer road, and Dor Peck, the son of George Peck, on the 
north. Henry Cady saw for the first time a hull plow on 
the McCrillis land, when .John Ogden was proprietor, and 
this was probably the work of Ansel Knowles, on the Mil- 
lard road. Adelbert McCrillis, brother to George and 
John, was one of the brightest scholars in Clarendon, but 
Death's untimely blast carried him away from this earthly 
school to another still higher, aud John McCrillis lost his 
beautiful girl, Hattie, who has gone to meet Adelbert, while 
Nancy Jane Ogden, with her smiling morning face, is now 
beyond the road she once graced with her charms. 

The Allen road, which passes west to the north of Anson 
Salsbury, was pushed through the woods by the energy of 
George S. and Guy Salsbury, to reach HoUey. The traveler 
can pass by this road west across the Salsbury, Packard and 
Hindsburgh roads, entering the Webster and Johnson 
roads, on his way toward Albion, over a swampy territory 
mostly, save where it has been drained by energetic farmers. 
John Hunt was the early wall-layer on these roads, and 
received as high as one dollar a rod, which price for some 
reason was better than the present wages. 

North of Henry Cady's house was a heavy black ash 
swamp, where the wild geese loved to '^conk;" but now 
they fly very high, and never rest their weary wings in the 
borders of Clarendon. The fire swept through this timber, 
and when Henry Cady began to plow, he would sink to the 
knees in water, and his drag would be out of sight. He 
ditched this swail, and harvested about 30 bushels of wheat 
and chaff, which may explain the apperance of chess in this 
part of the town. The first time that Henry Cady went to 
Holley, the Sawyer road passed over the hill east of where 
it is now located. Holley at one time had a great barn 
meeting, and Cady remembers of sitting on the scaffold 
with his feet hanging down, listening to the service. All 



HUIiBERTON ROAD. 201 

of the old familiar faces which Henry Cady once met in 
his trips to and from Holley have gone away, and this fact 
must at times make liim sad and lonely, as he jogs slowly 
over the road in this section. Isaac Oady, the father of 
Henry, died in 1873, aged 80 years, and Betsey, his mother, 
when Tilden was elected, 1876, also 80 years, which clearly 
proves that the black-ash swamp did not shorten their lives. 

Levi Broughton lived west of Henry Cady's, on the north 
side of the Sawyer road. Alexander Milliken came on to 
the Jacob Sawyer place, on this road, in June, 1827, and 
lived there until 1853. The house was carpentered bv 
James Winn about 1838. Robert Milliken, the son of 
Alexander Milliken, is now one of the head grocers in 
Holley. We shall mention a few places in Murray, on 
account of their associations. Elder Robinson Smith 
located on lands now owned by Dennis Shaw, and he was 
ix Revolutionary soldier, and one of Washington's body- 
guard. Isaac Smith took up the Levi Smith place on the 
Hulberton road in 1816, and Nathaniel Smith one lot of 
the Major Smith property the same year on this road. 
William Daggett took up the Frank Smith place, and Frank 
Smith built his fine house on the hill in 1880, and paints 
it every three years. Orange Smith built his house in 
1860, barns 1863, and planted his orchard in 1861, and 
has made all the improvements. Henry P. Bennett, who 
married Esther, the daughter of Samuel and Eunice 
Knowles, has been on his place on the Hulberton road 
since 1881. 

Levi Smith raised his house in 1864, and Ira Cole was 
the contractor, and Smith has been on this road 70 years, 
and is still a young man in appearance and labor. Major 
Smith erected his house in 1851, and has been on this spot 
since 1820. He set out his west orchard from Wight's nur- 
sery in Rochester, and in 1887 had 137 barrels of very 
clioice apples from two rows of trees. 



202 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

The Smith school-house was called the Can tine formerly, 
from Judge Cantine, who had, his residence on the lands 
lately held by Samuel Salsbury. This is one of the finest 
locations in this portion of the country, and the view from 
the house, which has been lately greatly improved, is ad- 
mirable. Judge Cantine built the house and barns in 1823, 
and the buildings are yet in good condition, Cantine set 
out the old Levi Smith orchard, and Samuel Saltbury 
planted the fine shade-trees, save two hickories. Dan Sals- 
bury, with his very happy and intelligent family, has been 
on the Cantine place since 1867, and Garritt Salsbury, with 
his musical household, has occupied lands to the east from 
1872, and these two brothers, as farmers, cannot be excelled. 

The old Aretas Pierce house, on the Hulberton road, was 
-erected in 1827, and the Colonel came there in 1815. 
Aretas, Jr., and Daniel cleared the lands, and put out the 
orchards. David Sturges gave Aretas Pierce, Jr., his first 
apple-trees, and they were planted by the old log-house on 
the 100 acres. Daniel Pierce raised Joseph Pierce's house 
in 1828, and Joseph has lived here since 1862, and Horace 
Pierce was born in this house. 

David Webster shingled his house in 1850, and put in his 
orchard to the soil in 1863. William Russell, with his 
happy family, has occupied his home from 1872. Frank 
Smith set out his east orchard, on the Hulberton road, 
which promises to be one of the best. 

Mark McCrillis, son of John McCrillis, of Murray, on 
the Cantine road, has one of the richest farms in this whole 
region, and, like his father, he is not only a first-class 
farmer, but also a chief citizen of Murray as to brains and 
native energy. The traveler may be proud in passing the 
Salsbury and McCrillis farms, and glory in the fact that 
they represent Western New York in her beauty and fer- 
tility. 

On the Barre road, to the west, Oman Evarts, the son of 



HULBERTON ROAD. 203 

Dennis Evarts, has an elegant residence, and his new- 
barns and evergreen hedge are remarked by alt who pass 
by. Farther on, John Waterman and James, his son, 
have two very fine farms, and all their buildings, the barns 
especially, are of the latest and most approved style, unit- 
ing in them much room with all the modern conveniences. 
John Waterman formerly made his visits to the old stone- 
store in Clarendon, and, as one of the hardest workers in 
the country, chewed his pound of fine-cut tobacco every 
week, which he continues, when over seventy, as tough as 
a knot, and may be seen almost daily passing between Albion 
and his old farm. His house was planned by Daniel F. 
St. John, of Clarendon, and James Waterman will soon 
push into the air a mansion that will make the old house 
sigh in envy. 

Over on the Andros road Royal Taylor has set out some 
fifteen acres of Niagara grapes, and, along with Daniel 
Barker, he is bound to know what Clarendon soil can do 
in this culture. On the new Swamp road, Daniel Albert 
has roofed a new residence, which is a decided improve- 
ment in this locality. On all the roads there is a steady 
march of progress, not only in farming, but also in all 
the changes which are taking place, and when one new 
barn or house is put up, this awakens some other to his 
needs, and the improvement-like fashion soon spreads. The 
Hood road was first surveyed in 1821 by Chauncey Robin- 
son, and established by Cyrus Hood and David Church ; 
the Milliken road the same year, and the Bennett's Corners 
road ; also the Root road and the Andros road ; in 1822, 
the Crossett road, Allen road and the Bird road ; in 1823, 
Salsbury road, Pettengill road, Johnson road and Taylor 
road ; in 1824, the Bartlett road and Williams road ; in 
1825, the Stevens road, portions of the Bennett Corners 
and Williams roads, and also a new establishment of the 
Stevens road. In 1827, the Fourth Section or Brockport 



204 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

road was re-established ; also a new survey of the Sawyer 
road, Ben*iett's Corners road, Cowles road and Matson 
road ; in 1831, a re-survey of the Warren road, Hindsburgh 
road and the road on the transit west of the Ward road. 
All of these surveys were made by Chauncey Robinson, 
under the commissioners of the different years. 

In the old town book the surveys were made mostly by 
Zenas Case, assisted by the commissioners of the then town 
of Sweden, and from 1815-19 include the Byron road, 
Brockport road, Crossett road, Bennett's Corners road, 
Milliken road, Andros road. Root road. Ward road and 
Hood road, with the different surveys in the village. In 
only one or two instances have any definite names been 
given to these surveys, outside of the number of the lots 
and the routes taken by the surveyors, and it would be wis- 
dom in commissioners to give a name to each town road 
when first laid out that would make it familiar to all per- 
sons as the streets of a city, and make a town map as 
correct as one in a mayor's office. All of these roads which 
we have given could be made attractive and beautiful by 
visiting the maple-groves, which everywhere abound, and 
transplanting trees that would add a charm to the land- 
scape from every point of the compass. If the school- 
teachers would implant this love of the beautiful and use- 
ful into the minds of the scholars, they would very soon 
bring their parents to understand that roads have some 
other purpose than merely passage. This, with stone- 
crushing and salaried highway commissioners, would soon 
make Clarendon the envy of the state. 



STORIES. 205 



CHAPTER XI. 

STORIES. MRS. CURTIS COOk's STORY. 

I WAS born in 1804, in Oneida county, Town of Verona, 
and came into Byron at nine years of age, 1813. There 
were no roads, only as we cut through the woods ; a path 
led by the Rock school-house. No houses in sight at this 
time, only the bodies of trees. Father put up a log-cabin, 
one room below, with slab roof and basswood log floor, 
adzed off and so laid. We had no chimney for a time, 
afterward a stick one, but we took solid comfort. The 
window-sash Father Richard Brown split out, and we had 
greased paper instead of glass. The children had earthen 
trenchers for eatinsf, the older ones blue-stone china. Our 
chairs were splint-bottom ; mother had a rocking-chair 
with a head-rest, the bottom fell out, and father put in 
strips of elm. Our house was 20 by 22 feet, with one 
room. Father and mother slept in one corner and the 
children in the other. My parents brought their bedstead 
with them, and after we had slept on the floor for a time 
we then had post-beds, bored into the logs. The logs on 
the inside were chinked with moss to keep out the cold. 
We brought with us one square table, with a drawer for the 
meat-plate, which was large. Ordinarily we ate without 
any table-cloth, and kept one only for company, and our 
linen was all homespun. The washing was done in an iron 
kettle, and we had a battle and battle-board, with a wash- 
tub, and used lye and soap, weak. 

Our house had no boiler until the stove came. At first 
our andirons were of stone, and we baked bread in a bake- 



2()6 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

kettle on the ashes and coals, and I have baked pies in the 
same in tins, and also bread. Our axes came from Sibley's, 
at Rochester,, and the boys, when only seven years of age, 
had theirs, to cut underbrush. The second log-house was 
put up in 1818, on the west side of the farm ; a double one, 
with two rooms below, a pantry and bedroom. Our mother 
died in the old house, and father married Abigail G-ibson in 
1817. Up-stairs, our house had one main room, which was 
partitioned off. The floor below was of maple, narrow 
boards, and kept very white by washing; there was a ladder 
to go aloft for the children. 

There was no road at first to Farwell's Mills, only a path 
for some time. Our house had no door for a while, but 
had a blanket hanging down, with a log rolled against it 
to keep the wolves from entering. They came around one 
night, and howled fearfully, and father got up and stirred 
up the fire to drive them away. The next day we saw 
their tracks near the house. Wolves would be caught in 
pits with spring-boards. When I was little, I spun on a 
quill- wheel, and had my stent to knit when I was only 
seven years of age. We spun our own thread, as there 
was none there, and afterwards it Avas bought on little 
<3otton balls. We would peel blue beech to make a scrub- 
broom, and use gourds for dippers. Our ware was mostly 
Japan, with iron candlesticks, such as they scrape hogs 
with nowadays ; mother had one or two brass candlesticks. 
I have known calico to be as high as $1.00 per yard, and I 
have one such piece in a bed-quilt now. We had no 
wells, only living springs where to get water. Flat-irons 
were very large then, and we had a black earthen tea-pot; 
tea was very high, and cost from $2.00 to 18 shillings per 
pound . Father would take maple sugar on his back to Batavia, 
and trade it for tea for mother. The coffee was made out 
of crusts scorched, and we had only a little in the spring 
of the year w4th sap coffee. The sugar from the store 



STORIES. 20 T 

was loaf, in purple papers, which we had to chip off with 
an axe or knife. We made our soap soft, and then would 
put in salt to harden it. Batavia was our market, and 
at this time Hewitt kept a store between Spring and Black 
creeks. We made our own candles. We went to Billy 
Brown's to meetings, and old Mr. Miller and Mr. Spalding 
were Methodist ministers. We would go three or four 
miles to meeting, and take blocks of wood with boards 
across for seats. The minister would stand back of a 
chair, read and sing twice at first, before hymn-books were 
used; •sometimes two sermons, in the forenoon and after- 
noon. We would go home, read the Bible, or listen, and 
the children were not allowed to pick up beechnuts on 
Sunday. 

Our place was south of the Rock school-house, and a 
burying-ground was once on father's land. I came on to 
my present home in 1835. Sanford had the place before 
we did; Mr. Cook bought eighteen acres, and there was a 
poor log-house, and we rigged up a corn-barn and lived in 
the same. In 1824, I saw a stove in Batavia, when I 
worked there, and I cooked over it for three months. It 
had a place on which to broil steak, venison and chicken. 
The first stove I had was only one griddle, and was only 
for boiling, with no legs, but bricks. 

I wove cloth, and hired the same done for two dollars 
for the winter. Curtains at first were of paper, and we 
had a one-horse buggy with wooden springs. We had 
quilting and picking bees, of wool, to send to the carding- 
mill. We would spin during the day and dance at night. 
Father made our own shoes, and the children whittled the 
pegs out of maple. We had butter which tasted of leeks 
in the woods, and we used sives to take away this sensation 
while eating. Our whisky would be got at Sturges', in 
wooden bottles. Samuel Taggart was our doctor. Mr. 
Cook has sold corn for one shilling a bushel. I never heard 



"208 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

-of catarrh there when 1 was a girl. There were plenty of 
blue jays, but no golden robins. The meetings had no 
collections tliat I can remember. We had no rats until 
grain came, but a great many bats; also flying squirrels. 
I do not remember crows, but there were some hawks. 
Wild geese flew over, and quail and partridge plenty. 

MARY ANN COOk's STORY. 

I was born in Windsor, Hartfonl county, Connecticut, 
May 18, 1800, and came to Pompey, in New York, in 1818, 
and to Clarendon in 1830. I made my first rag ca^^^et in 
1820, and have paid four shillings per yard for calico. Our 
first dishes were of blue stone ware and stone china, and 
have some yet. We had English knives and forks. Our 
table was made in Cazenovia, and our chairs were from 
Syracuse, splint bottom. The table-cloth was of linen, 
which mother made, and she was a great weaver, and she 
spun worsted nicely for those days. I had one pair of silk 
stockings and a looking-glass that cost eight dollars. My 
father's silver teaspoons were very small. 

The first wall-paper I saw in 1812, at my cousins, in 
Connecticut. It was of small figure, and cost four shillings 
a roll. Mother had worsted window-curtains, plain, with 
tassels, and they rolled up. We used flints and punk for 
striking a light, and we went to bed at nine o'clock and 
arose at five in the summer, and in the winter 6.30 a. m. 
In this state we took the Rochester Gem for our newspaper. 
Mr. Cook's pocket-book was about six inches long and four 
inches deep, made of calf-skin, with a leather band. I was 
eighty-two when I pieced my last bed-quilt. In this town 
we would at first get our lime in HoUey, which was poor 
stuff. We had some buckwheat at first, but it was higher 
than ordinary wheat. We wore sun-bonnets every day, 
and a Sunday one that cost six dollars, very large before 
the face. 



STORIES. 209 

We would go visiting in double wagons, and we had 
large chests to hold our clotlies. Chester Mills made me 
my first bureau and bedstead, to pay for my making him 
a coat. When I was young tomatoes were called love- 
apples, and I ate them after I was married. I generally 
had one barrel of sweet cider each year for pies and for 
sauce. We made our own currant jelly, also our own cur- 
rant and elderberry wine; there Avere not many wild 
berries. My mother made stuff for grain-bags. Our shoes 
were of calf-skin, laced and very solid for every-day wear, 
and I had about two pair each year, which generally cost 
twelve shillings to two dollars. We often rode on horses 
two at a time, and went to church twelve or fourteen in a 
lumber wagon, or sleighs in chairs. 

The first church in old Lemuel Cook's barn was held by 
Elder Rawson, a blue Presbyterian, who believed that babies 
paved hell if their parents were unregenerate. At William 
Glidden's, church was held in his log barn, with board 
seats, while the minister had a chair, and he kneeled on 
the barn floor. One man would play the base viol, and 
sometimes Ave would take our dinner to the services. I 
have kept fruit-cake three months at a time, and we had 
plenty of pudding and milk, also rice and milk. There 
was no eating before going to bed, and no dyspepsia. We 
ate a good deal of cod-fish and shad in the place of pork- 
Coffins were mostly made at the " Mills," and the schools 
would close during the funerals. Doctors would travel on 
horses or afoot, with saddle-bags, giving calomel and jalap 
without water. They bled a good deal, and gave penny- 
royal tea in fevers. I used to run and give my cousin 
water on the sly from a little brook when she was sick. 
Dr. Churchill was one of our doctors, who lived two miles 
this side of Church ville. [This probably gave the name.] 
We would dry clothes on wall hooks in the house. Butter 
from six cents to a shilling per pound, eggs as low as eight 



210 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

cents per dozen. There was no market for maple-sugar 
then. The babies were rocked in cradles made out of 
boards, cut off and then nailed together. Children went 
barefoot when warm enough. Babies, in the winter, had 
flannel, in the summer very cool, and were out of doors 
most of the time in good weather. I have had nineteen 
coats at one time to make, besides millinery, and did not 
stop work until I was taken down sick at eighty-two years 
of age. 

WILLIAM GLIDDEN's CANAL STORY. 

Jeremiah Cogswell, of Brockport, was my captain on 
the " New Hampshire," of Brockport, in 1825, and I was a 
driver. The boat was about eighty feet in length and 
seventeen in width, and the horses were carried in the 
stern, with a temporary stable hung on. This boat would 
carry about seven hundred barrels of flour and drew three 
feet of water. 

I made three round trips from Buffalo to Albany and 
Brockport. We would be about eighteen to twenty days 
in the full trip. I received eight dollars a month as 
•driver. In 1829 I was on a line-boat, Cogswell the owner, 
Joshua Bailey the first captain and Church the second. 
He was from Jefferson county. We had two horses on the 
line-boat at each station, from twelve to twenty miles 
:apart. We had a stern cabin and also a bow cabin on 
this boat. At one time we carried three hundred Dutch 
in the center of the boat. In 1829, Brockport was about 
the size of Clarendon, with one grocery and several stores. 
The grocery was kept by one Webster. Utica about the 
same size as Rochester, and Syracuse as large as Holley at 
present, and Schenectady also ; I saw the first cars at 
Schenectady. 

Utica we called the best town on the canal. We had 
good living on the boat, and the board in the cabin was 



STORIES. 211 

about thirty cents a meal. On the line-boat I was bows- 
man, at eighteen dollars a month, and I waited on the 
passengers and got milk at the stations. We had a black 
man for cook, who was not allowed in the bow cabin. The 
stern cabin was for officers of the boat. We had room for 
forty in the bow cabin, with -berths on both sides, the men 
and women separate. I ran on the line-boat from Albany 
to Buffalo. We charged the three hundred Dutch $300.00 
for their passage, and were eight days on the trij). The 
steersman would get eighteen to twenty dollars per month. 
I was off and on the line-boat thirteen years. I bought a 
boat in the forties and made three round trips, and cleared 
$1,100.00 in one trip. I was away from home two months, 
and saved $1,100.00. 

MRS. WILLIAM GLIDDEN'S STORY. 

I was born in 1812, and when three years old moved into 
Camillus, Onondaga county, and came into Clarendon at 
fifteen, in 1827. My father was William Cox, who lived 
across from Willet Jackson's. Nicholas E. Darrow, in the 
Cowles district, was one of my teachers, and (Calvin Baker, 
in Onondaga county. My sister, Fanny Cox, who married 
Ira Simpson, uncle to Nathan Simpson, at the Two Bridges, 
would go from house to house during the sickly seasons. 
Mrs. James A. Smith was a very fine woman, and Deacon 
Chase, of Parma, came to our house, and, after getting her 
fifteen hundred dollars Avhich we had paid her, he locked 
her up in a room and passed the food through a window to 
her. He came here to our house at her death and did not 
want to pay three dollars for digging the grave and having 
ten men to dinner. 

Mrs. Joseph L. Cook, 7iee Foote, of Clarkson, was a 
splendid woman, as was also Mrs. Noah Sweet. We had 
as our doctors Dr. Elliott, of Beech Ridge, and Dr. Ralph 
Gillett, from Sweden Center. Our family in Onondaga all 



212 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

had the smallpox, and came through all right. The 
neighbors would pass the food through the fence, and not 
come into the house or yard. There was no patent medi- 
cine when I was a girl, and peddlers first brought us pills. 

HORATIO reed's STORY.* 

I was born in 1798, in Connecticut, and am the last male 
member of the Sweden Baptist church. I have raised 
wheat at 67 cents per bushel, and have known it to be as 
low as three shillings. We cut at first with sickles. I would 
walk to Farwell's Mills, on election board, and then to 
Albion, to make our reports. The first voting I remember 
was at Dan Polly's, then at Col. Shubael Lewis', then in 
the frame school-house at the Mills, holding three days. 
John Millard and myself were the first clerks on the board. 
I would go to all these polling-places one day after the 
other, and receive from eight shillings to ten shillings a day. 
As supervisor I got $2.00 a day, and was allowed $1.00 for 
traveling expenses. Our ballots at first were printed in 
Albion, by Strong. We had five places where the polls 
were held. Lebarron kept the first store at North Ber- 
gen. As to my being an assemblyman, Sturges and Fox 
spoke to me; but Chauncey Robinson said : " If they want 
the clerk, you are the man ; if they want the assembly- 
man, / am the man." (Reed got the assembly.) " That 
closed me up," said Reed. Ool. Hubbard Rice said I 
must go to Albion. My printing bill as assembly nominee 
cost me $25.00. Before I was in the assembly there was 
no praying at the opening. Henry W. Taylor, of Canan- 
daigua, moved that the different clergymen open the session 
with prayer. Welch, of the Baptist church of Albany, 
made the first prayer. Horatio Hutchinson upbraided the 
assembly three years before for not worshiping God. 

*Horatio Reed died October, 1888, aged 90 years. 



STORIES. 213 

I have caught over 300 pickerel out of Black Creek, in 
Byron. These fish were first put in by Robert Green, of 
Byron. I was well acquainted with William H. Seward. 
Russell Eastman, the second teacher in the Commercial Col- 
lege at Poughkeepsie, was one of my scholars at Paris, 
Oneida County. I taught at Pumpkin Hill two winters, 
and had on an average 78 scholars, in the old school-house, 
where I was the first teacher. I was also captain in the 
militia. Two of my pupils, Truman P. Handy, now a 
banker in Cleveland, and Parker Handy, in the Gold Room, 
New York, were in my school also at Paris. I taught four 
winters in Bergen, and once at West Sweden. I was super- 
intendent five winters of the Bergen schools. ' I had stoves 
at all my schools. The first Sunday-school I held at the 
Reed school-house in Bergen, and had one also at Pumpkin 
Hill. Deacon Anderson and I belonged to the first tem- 
perance society. John Millard said he was "a cold-water 
man," which was the first temperance speech at Farwell's 
Mills, in the old frame school-house. I put out the old 
orchard on my place in Clarendon, and have done all the 
grafting once on my own trees. I had a plum nursery for 
five years, and would pick 30 bushels in a year. I helped to 
clear the road in Clarendon from tamarack poles, and drew 
in gravel from Hammonds. The first two winters at Pump- 
kin Hill — hardly any snow, but good crops. I came into 
Clarendon in 1825, and I heard the cannons when the 
canal was opened. I built my house in 18'28. My brother 
and I owned 240 acres of land. The first year we had only 
15 acres of wheat clear; the rest of the farm was heavy 
timber. I would generally have my wheat cut by the 1th 
of July. When I was supervisor, I would drive to Holley 
and take the packet to Albion. Sanford E. Church, was 
our county clerk — a very good one. On equalization, 
Chubb, of Gaines, and I did the figuring. Tyler of Yates, 
kept it down. We got the scale right. 



214 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



ASA GLIDDEN'S story. 

I came into Clarendon in 1816, when I was eight years of 
age, with my brother William. Barber Niles gave the name 
of Calico Hill to the spot above William Glidden, on 
account of a large family of girls there who dressed in this 
material. The south part of my orchard came from Brown's 
nursery, in Sweden, and was niitural fruit. James Bod- 
well lived on the corner, where now Perry Glidden lives, 
and James Bodwell, Jr., across the way, in 1817, and they 
went to Canada. Stilson Hackett had his home where 
Lusk is, on the Charles Lusk place, but he also moved to 
Canada. Joseph Cook, the father of Ely H. Cook, built 
the Lusk house, as it now stands, about 1832, and Ely was 
born here. In our school-house Elder Hannibal was the 
Eree-Will Baptist preacher, and held quarterly meetings 
here, and there were weekly prayer-meetings. The boys 
put pins under one preacher, and he never again preached 
at the Cowles school-house. 

William Glidden built the Perry Glidden house. Father 
Asa Glidden drove a span of horses, and drove one team 
here. A good many of the winters were warm — not snow 
enough to go to Farwell's Mills before clearing. There was 
plenty of water then, and a spring near the corners — now 
all dried up. I have raised 50 bushels of wheat to the acre. 
Our knoll was formerly a runway for deer, and my brother 
and I caught a deer in the woods. There were some black 
bears to be seen, and chipmunks and black squirrels were 
plenty. I killed eleven black ones one morning on the fence 
with a club. We had no gray squirrels then. I had a 
wooden plow at first with iron share, and this would slipup 
by a bolt. 

Granger, in Sweden, was a wagon- and plow-maker. I 
would take the plowshare to Benjamin Sheldon, a black- 



STORIES. 215 

smith on the 4th Section, and he would sharpen it. Father 
brought his himber wagon from Canada. Alexander Miller 
made my first buggy. Gardiner, across from Samuel Haw- 
ley's, built my barns. Winslow Sheldon and Robert 
Rodgers were my carpenters. James A. Winn built a por- 
tion of my house. There were three fire-places in the old 
part, with a brick oven. Prindle did the mason-work on 
the old house, and Lines Lee on the new. Robinson, a 
cooper, lived on the Samuel Skinner property. He made 
pails for me over fifty years ago. On the Lusk place there 
were wild duck, and there was also a bear pond on this 
farm. The ministers used to baptize on the Cowles place, 
on the east side of the road — all gone now. There was 
plenty of black-ash timber, and the creek used to run the 
year round. Pettengill True and Levi Mowers drilled our 
wells 30 years ago. Cutter and Lorenzo Sheldon laid walls 
under barns, and along the roads. The first clover my 
father bought from Asa Hill on the 4th Section road, who 
lived in a stone house where Spencer Barlow now eats his 
meals. This was about 1818. Timothy grass seemed to 
come in of its own accord. I mowed some near the present 
Mills' place, and pounded it out. Isaac llall lived in the 
swamp in a shanty, and woukl take his wife inside on his 
back out of the wet, and 12 years ago built his fine house. 
Quarterly meetings were held also in William Glidden's barn, 
on the Perry Glidden place. Dr. Avery and Dr. Elliott 
were our first family physicians. Dr. Avery was from 
Sweden, and Dr. Elliott was from Beach Ridge, on the lake 
road. And one person used to say, "If you want to see 
Dr. Elliott's skill, look on Beach Ridge Hill." This was 
the old burying-ground site, and one can see the joke. 
These doctors would generally charge one dollar a visit. 



216 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



WILLIAM GLIDDEN'S STORY. 



I was born in 1810, in the town of Stansted, in Lower 
Canada. 1 came into Clarendon when I was six years of 
age — 1816. The frost killed our wheat, and we made bread 
out of potatoes. Father and uncle came to where Perry 
Glidden now lives, and began to chop, fixing to build a 
shanty. When we came through Rochester there were one 
or two stores, one grist-mill, one saw-mill, and one or two 
taverns. We went to our shanty, near where Samuel !Skin- 
ner lived. The roof was of elm bark, and the windows 
were greased paper. Father bought a bushel of corn in 
1817 for 13.00, out of which mother gave us Johnny-cake 
three times a day. After this was gone, mother said one 
night to father, " Asa, what shall I have for breakfast ? '^ 
Father cried, and could say nothing. Father went over to 
Babcock's, and he gave him the privilege of cutting early 
rye, and we had boiled rye pudding and milk. Father took 
one bag to Farwell's to grind, and mother woke us up when 
he came back, and gave us each a piece of shortcake. 
Then this was pieced out to us, and we ate roasted corn. 
We had two hogs, and someone stole one of them. Jere- 
miah Glidden came to our house on Christmas day with 
steers to draw them, and we had benches to sit on. Glid- 
den said: ''All must sing, and others tell stories." This 
was Christmas Day, 1817. The spare-rib was put on a 
large pewter platter, and I was barefoot, and had no shoes. 
In the spring I would boil sap barefooted. We cut down 
trees for bedsteads, and used elm bark for cords. I cut 
wood when I was eight years of age. I never went hungry 
after the first year. We only staid near the Skinner place 
from March until October, 1816, and then went into our 
new log-house where now Asa Glidden lives. This had 
two rooms below, and we would drive in steers to the fire- 
place with back log. We had no chimney the first winter ; 



STORIES. 217 

after this a stick one. The barn had four posts, with thatched 
roof made of straw. The second year we had red chaff 
wheat, then Hutchinson white, with white chaff and 
bearded ; then Indiana wheat. I have dragged wheat until 
the snow drove us off. The first Canada thistles came from 
Simeon Glidden unloading his goods on his place. I have 
carried a basket of eggs to Olarkson Corners for ten cents. 
I picked up barley from Seabury's, in Sweden, on what is 
now known as the Justin Cook farm, and had all I could 
pick, and this was four-rowed. We made home-brewed beer 
out of roots, hemlock and spruce. The first well we blasted 
to the rock at Asa Glidden's. Our first stove we bought of 
Robie & Gould, at Brockport, for |!35.00. Our second stove 
was an elevated oven. I went to school in Sweden to Joe 
Staples, Humphrey Palmer, John Church; at Bennett's 
Corners, George Salsbury, Daniel Vining, Seba Bodwell 
and Burroughs Holmes. A man traveled on horse with 
saddle-bags, and had Rochester newspapers, on the 4th Sec- 
tion, or Brockport road, in 1825. There was a graveyard 
25 rods north of George Cowles's, and I helped to take up 
some of the bodies, and moved them to the present Glidden 
burying-ground. Our deed was from the Poultney com- 
pany. We had no boxes then for coffins, and cut poles to 
use as a bier, and would leave them in the yard. The dead 
had shrouds to Avear. We sat up with the dead, and cats 
would come in at times. Abijah Smith took up two lots, 
and Noah Sweet two lots. Abijah gave the land to James 
A. Smith, his son, and he built the old saw-mill on my 
land, and died where I now live. The roads in our neigh- 
borhood ran about the same as now in relation to course. 

Note. — The Glidden saw-mill here spoken of is to the southwest 
from William Glidden's house, in a field, with mulley saw — the 
pond a resort for ducks, kilder and frogs. There is a board shanty 
near by, in which tenants sometimes live. There are elm trees 
around. The creek comes in from the southwest, with a flume built 
by James A. Smith, where he handled logs in this wooden country. 
Glidden on his present place since 1853, 
10 



218 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

BENJAMIN G. PETTENGILL's STORY. 

Benjamin G. Pettengill was born on the 23cl day of 
July, 1793, in the Town of Lewiston, Lincoln county, 
Province of Maine, and lived on the farm where he was born 
until twenty-four years of age, when, in May, 1817, he 
packed up his clothes, and, with twenty-five silver dollars 
in his pocket, started on foot for the far West, even to 
Western New York, where his uncle Benjamin (of whom 
Benjamin and Edward, now living near Holley, formed a 
part) had emigrated in 1811, and settled on a farm at 
Parma Corners, on the Ridge road, ten miles west of 
Rochester. He walked to Portland, and then took a 
schooner to Boston, Mass., from whence he wended his 
toilsome way on foot nearly five hundred miles to his des- 
tination at Parma Corners. 

Soon after his arrival he made the acquaintance of Elder 
George Stedman, a carpenter by trade, residing in Clar- 
endon (or then Sweden, in Genesee county), on a hundred- 
acre lot, lying south of the Christian burying-ground (on 
what is now known as the Pettengill road), and he being 
in want of help, hired Mr. Pettengill to work with him as 
carpenter, and in the fall of 1817 they built a school- 
house in what was then called Farwell's Mills or Claren- 
don. Elder Stedman sold him the north half of his farm 
the £ame fall, 1817, but he did not settle on the farm until 
1821. He married Hannah B. Pettengill, daughter of his 
uncle, in 1819, and settled on a fifty-acre farm in Ogden, 
Monroe county, where his eldest son, David N. Pettengill, 
was born. He worked on the Erie Canal several months, 
iit eight dollars a month, helping to make the Pittsford 
embankment, and, the surveyors having laid out the route 
of the canal through his farm, running from the south-east 
to the north-west corner of it, he came to the conclusion 
that it would be ruined, and he sold his chance for a trifle 



STORIES. 



219 



and moved on to his farm in Clarendon 1821. Here he 
resided until 1843, when, having built him a comfortable 
home on another part of his farm (now known as the 
Andrew Salsbury property, on the Millard road), he left 
the old home, where were born his three other children — 
Phebe H., Feb. 7, 1822; Amos N., Nov. 24, 1824; and True 
E. G. Pettengill, Sept. 27, 1827. The old house still stands, 
and is now owned and occupied by Robert Hibbard, on 
the Pettengill road. 

Pettengill was a man of strong convictions and honest 
endeavor, was fairly educated, so far as relates to common 
schools, taught school several Avinters and was school- 
inspector and commissioner several years, and always took 
a deep interest in school matters. He was elected a jus- 
tice of the peace in 1827, and served in that office con- 
tinuously for sixteen years, and did a large share of the 
business in town during that period. He once remarked 
that though many cases had been appealed from his 
decisions, only one had ever been reversed by the higher 
court. Eminent counsel pleaded cases before him, such as 
Simeon B. Jewett, Judge William James, A. Hyde Cole, 
Esq., and others conducted intricate cases before him, and, 
though stern and impartial in his decisions, these able 
lawyers always respected him for his integrity and honesty. 
He was elected supervisor several times, and also filled 
other offices in town. 

In April, 1845, his second son, Amos, died at the age 
of twenty years, and in August, 1866, his wife died, after 
having been for six years stricken with paralysis of the 
right side. She, indeed, had been a helpmeet for him, 
and was truly one of nature's noble women— self-sacri- 
ficing, a devoted Christian companion. Pettengill was a 
Whig in politics, as long as that party held an organiza- 
tion ; a devoted Henry Clay Whig, and he impressed the 
principles of that party strongly on his three sons. He 



220 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

and his two sons joined the Republican party in 1855, and 
he remained a member of it till his death. In early 
manhood, though he had been raised in the strictest school 
of Calvinism, he had the curiosity to go and hear Elder 
Barnes preach in his native town. He was a preacher of 
the Calvinist- Baptist faith enlarged — that is, a preacher 
who believed God was omnipotent, and what He desired 
to do He would do ; and, having the power, He had the 
disposition to nltimately save every child whom He should 
bring into being. His argument and Scripture proof made 
a lasting impression on the young man's mind, and it was 
seed cast into good ground, for soon after settling in 
Clarendon he joined, with Judge Eldredge Farwell, David 
Sturges, Abner Hopkins, Nathaniel Perry, Samuel Wether- 
bee, Horace Peck and a few others, in establishing stated 
preaching of the Universalist faith at FarwelFs Mills. 
These pioneers of that faith gave expression to their sin- 
cerity by erecting the present stone church, and causing 
it to be dedicated, in 1837, to the worship of the Universal 
Father of all, as a Christian home for all His children 
who desired to come and worship Him in spirit and in 
truth. 

In 1850, Pettengill moved into the village of Clarendon, 
and built him a house opposite the church, and in the 
village he spent the remaining years of his life, and died 
of heart disease on the 14th of April, 1870, at the age of 
seventy-seven years, respected and honored by all who 
knew him. His eldest son, David N. Pettengill, held 
the office Ox justice of the peace for twenty-five years, 
and was postmaster for several years at Clarendon. In 
1852, his youngest son. True E. G. Pettengill, was 
appointed postmaster, and was succeeded by Colonel N. 
E. Darrow during the Pierce administration. True E. 
G. Pettengill, in 1854, married Emma Sturges, the youngest 
daughter of David Sturges, Esq. 



STORIES. 221 

In 1862, T. E. G. Pettengill was nominated by the 
Republican party for the office of county clerk, but de- 
clined it in favor of Colonel A. F. Brown, who, a few 
weeks before, lost an arm at the battle of Cedar Moun- 
tain, Va., while leading the 28th N. Y. V. in that terrible 
encounter, its Colonel Donnelley having been killed at the 
beginning of the battle. 

In November, 1863, T. E. G-. Pettengill accepted an ap- 
pointment in the United States Treasury, at Washington, 
D. C, where he removed with his wife and son, Edward T. 
(who was born in April, 1857), and has since resided in 
that city. He remained in the same office, as chief of a 
division, until June 1, 1885, when he was removed to make 
place for a Mugwump Democrat, Oscar J. Harvey, who, 
after serving less than tiuo years, was arrested for forgery 
and fraud on the government, and, on his own confession, 
convicted and sentenced to the Albany Penitentiary for 
twelve years. The only daughter of Benjamin G. Petten- 
gill's family — Phebe H. Culver — still resides in Clarendon, 
where she was born. The religious and political principles 
of her father and mother formed a strong conviction in her 
life, and she adheres to tlie faith once delivered to the 
saints. 

The above account was furnished the author by T. E. G. 
Pettengill, who taught school at the Love school-house, 
was in the employ of George M. Copeland, as cl rk in his 
store, from March, 1818, until April, 1852, when he formed 
a partnership with T. R. Sherwood, in the mercantile busi- 
ness, in the lower stone store, which was burnt when occu- 
pied by N. H. Darrow as a hardware establishment, in 1884, 
and who built his new store on the same site in 1885, which 
he still occupies. 

All of these stories have been, with this last exception, 
taken from the lips of the parties, and are as correct as a 



222 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

reporter could make them, and are here introduced to show 
what many have done, giving their own words, almost ver- 
batim, and without addition or retrenchment, unless abso- 
lutely necessary. 

SARAH JANE VINCENT'S STORY. 

I was born in 18i^2, in a log-house back of Jerry Waite's, 
in Clarendon. My father, Joshua Vincent, built the first 
saw-mill, where the old Ourtiss cider-mill now stands, ii> 
1820. He took up 100 acres of land at this point, and af- 
terward moved into Holley and made brick in three kilns 
on the Cord place. He burnt brick for the old block in 
Brockport, and for the old M. E. church, and sawed lumber 
for the first shanty in Holley, when the Erie canal was 
dug. He built the old Burgess tavern, on Beech ridge, 
outside of Brockport. Judge Eldredge Farwell ordered 
lumber from Vincent's saw-mill. Augustus Southworth 
and Hiram Frisbie built the stone grist-mill in Holley, 
about 1835. The first grist-mill in Holley was the old 
stone tannery, and Thomas Kutherford first turned the mill 
into a tannery. 

Epaphros Pennell had a carding-mill, which he converted 
into a woolen factory. James Bushnell had also a woolen 
factory, below Card's, which was burnt down. Hiram 
Frisbie had also au ashery. At the foot of Rutherford's 
garden John Harper boiled salt, and the well is now cov- 
ered with a flat stone. Another well was under the old 
canal culvert, which had pump-logs, and there was a third 
on the south side of the railroad, and the gulf was full of 
salt springs. John Harper would take salt in bags to Roch- 
ester, with an ox-cart. 

I first went to school in a log-house back of Alpheus Lu- 
cas' stone-house, in Clarendon, and Sarah Ayers was my 
first teacher in the brick school-house in Holley, across 
from Dr. Cady's, in 1828. I had other teachers, as, Mr. 



STORIES. 223 

Moore, Ingersoll, Waldo Joslyn, Smith, Miss Hamlin, and 
Mary F. Dyke. 

Father shot the cannon when the canal was completed, 
in November, 1825. Colonel Brainerd built the old canal 
culvert in 1822. Major Ellis had a yellow warehouse on 
the north side of the canal bridge. Hiram Frisbie kept a 
store in the block where Wells is now, and Erastus Cone 
had his store in the stone-house across from John Brack- 
ett's, and father gave the stone from his place to build this 
store. Benedict Gould had a store southwest from the 
Mansion House, and Aarao Hamlin's place of business was 
where James Robb now has his grocery. His residence 
was where Charles Frisbie now resides. The Baptist 
church was built in 1834, by Lyman and Samuel Youngs 
and the Presbyterian church in 1836. 

The first graveyard in Holley was on Rutherford's hill, 
and there were some graves at Rorabeck's. Mrs. Plum's 
house was built in 1828. Father sawed lumber for John 
Brackett's house. The Mansion House is very old, and the 
man who built it held his wife's funeral therein, when the 
house was completed. There was only one other tavern in 
Holley at this time. I remember the first packet on the 
Erie canal, called the Plowboy, and this ran between Hol- 
ley and Rochester ; second, the Swiftsure ; third. Sir Henry, 
leaving Holley at 6 a. m. and returning at 9 p. m., and the 
fare was two cents per mile. The first driver on a through 
packet was buried at Pendleton, in Niagara county. There 
was only one run of stone in Lucas' mill, in Clarendon. 
Near Jerry Waite's was a log distillery, Reuben Lucas 
lived in a double log-house, on the old Hatch place, on the 
west side of the highway, and the frame part was moved 
to the east. A well was filled up on the west side, near the 
old log-house, supposed to contain one Brown's body, who 
mysteriously disappeared. The first frame-house on the 
north side of the railroad is the yellow mill-house. 



224 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Edwin Bliss came into Holley in 1867, and opened up 
the lumber-yard for Luther Gordon, of Brockport, in 
March of that year. Bliss worked on the Newton & Gar- 
field block in 1866. Luther Gordon builb his fine lumber 
office in 1879, which is finished in native woods, and was 
intended by Gordon to be one of the best in the state, but 
death defeated his plans. George Gordon is now the owner, 
the son of Luther, a noted banker in Brockport, who buys 
the lumber through Edwin Bliss, his manager, mostly from 
Michigan, and is at present the only lumber-yard in Hol- 
ley. This yard has furnished the lumber for two-thirds of 
the buildings which modern Holley owns. Luther Gor- 
don, in 1880, built the new steam flouring- mills in Holley. 

Alva S. Morgan, of Holley, saw a wolf, in 1831, near the 
county line, on the Ridge road, that snarled at him as he 
was driving his cows home. He took one of the cows by 
the tail and it ran him safely home. Hiram Redman's 
brother killed a sandy wolf in the north woods, in Murray, 
in 1832, and this was the last one heard of in this section. 

J. C. Weller came into Holley in the fall of 1848. He 
worked for Sanford Goff in the stone-shop, in that year, 
and built his present shop in 1854, and Penny's wagon- 
shop in 1857. Two dollars a horse was the highest price 
paid for shoeing during the war. He would fire all his own 
shoes and nails, and, during the war, work until two in the 
morning. Weller has put on 107 shoes in ten hours, Hor- 
ace Sawyer and Haight fitting. He turned 122 shoes in 
seven hours, on a twenty-dollar bet, R. 0. Dibble holding 
the stakes. He put on seventy-two shoes for railroad 
horses on one Sunday in 1851, and the first train on the 
New York Central, through Holley, was July 4, 1852. 

George W. Reynell has been in the stone-shop in Holley 
as a blacksmith fourteen years. This shop was built by 
Brad Williams sixty years ago. Reynell has put on sixty 
shoes in a day, and has used patent shoes and nails about 



STORIES. 225 

sixteen years. The Borden shoe was the first used. Rey- 
nell was only hurt once, so as to be laid up, in twenty-one 
years. Reynell has put on ninety-two shoes in eight hours. 
The shoes are American refined iron, made by Burden, of 
West Troy, and are shipped all over the world. The wheel 
for blowing, instead of the old-fashioned bellows, has been 
in use about ten years. Revnell uses Cumberland coal and 
Fall Brook. 

Joseph A. Bryan, of HoUey, came into Clarendon in 1838, 
and bought out Gould, the tailor, opening his tailor-shop 
over Sturges' store,and remained eight years. Bryan built the 
plastered house on Albion street in 1844, Winfield Foster 
the architect. Frederick Maine moved the Bryan house 
now owned by Mason T. Lewis, on Woodruff avenue. 

Stephen Northway was born in Norfolk,Litchfield County, 
Conn., April 21, 1801. He lived in Homer, A^. y., from' 
1803 until 1815, and then moved to Le Roy, one and one- 
half miles from Tufft's tavern, northwest. There were 
only five acres cleared at this time, and he cleared four acres 
more with a horse-team, and planted this to wheat, in 1816. 
There was a frost in June and July, and only a small por- 
tion was fit for flour, the rest used as fodder. Anning 
ground it in his mill. He put out eight acres to corn in 1819, 
and the frost cut it down twice. The first parts were cut 
off with knives and scissors, and he had to fix it up with 
poles, and had only enough corn for two hogs. Paid Pre- 
served Richmond $1.50 per bushel for seed. The neigh- 
bors at this time were Millings, Farley, Batchelder, Deacon 
Cadman, Sanford, Langworthy, Rhodes, Haskell, a fiddler, 
Cooley and Bishop, three-fourths of a mile away, on the 
Buffalo road. Had a log school-house here. The price of 
potash barrels was $1.50 each ; flour barrels, $2.00. There 
was one store at Le Roy, kept by John and George Anning, 
and they had a distillery, grist and saw-mill. There was 
another grist-mill up the creek, owned by Tufft. John 



226 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Gilbert was a blacksmith near by. Tufft was agent of the 
Crnger tract, and was wealthy, and Tufft's tavern was a 
noted place. In 1819 Northway worked near Le Roy for 
ten dollars per month in the summer, and would go to 
Caledonia Springs to grist-mill. The hand-fan and seive 
was then used for wheat. The barrels had round hoops 
made of hickory. Father made whisky barrels for Anning's 
distillery. In March, 1820, was three-fourths mile west of 
Mayville ; the ox-cart stuck in the snow. Hiram North- 
way cleared land on the summit. North way helped to clear 
the land where Sherman village now stands. At this time 
it was twelve miles one way to aneighbor. There were 
then two taverns at Mayville; JeddiahTracey kept the best. 
Only one store, George McGonnikill, proprietor, and there 
were only four or five houses to the lake (Chautauqua). 

At Fairpoint, all woods. North way took a grist of wheat 
to Pendergrast's mill, at Jamestown, in a skiff. Wheat, 
four to five shillings a bushel; 1819, two shillings and six- 
pence per bushel. Only two stores at Jamestown then, and 
one tavern. Received, at twenty-one years, four shillings a 
day. Have sold wheat for four shillings ; corn, two shil- 
lings ; potatoes at sixpence a bushel, and oats ten cents a 
bushel, for taxes, instead of money. In 1844 Northway 
cut eighty acres of grass by hand, and raked the same. 
Butter, six to nine cents per pound. Northway came to 
Clarendon April 15, 1856, and the snowbanks were eight 
feet deep by Captain Martin's, and drifts until May. Stephen 
Northway cut with a cradle five acres of wheat in one day, 
and George Northway raked and bound this, in 1857. 
Northway made a fence at Mayville sixteen rods long, ten 
feet rails, and seven feet high, out of one cucumber-tree. 

Dr. Robert Nickerson was born in 1805, in Massachu- 
setts, and came into Murray in 1827, on the present home- 
stead he lately occupied on the north side of the Ridge road, 
at Sandy Creek. There was a hotel here then, kept by Dr. 



STORIES. 22 T 

Wood, and stages ran until the railroad at HoUey, in 1852. 
The Ridge road, at an early day, would be crowded with 
teams. I went on horseback, or on foot, at first to doctor. 
The first call I had to West Kendall my horse cut himself 
badly. I. hitched the horse to a tree, and then traveled 
through the woods four miles to my patient, and returned 
the next day, and I lost my way in the woods with the 
horse, there being no roads at that time. There were five 
mill-dams in this region to produce malaria, and I was forced 
to go from house to house, whole families down sick with 
the intermittent fever, with chills, and I had to send for help 
to Sweden. I would make a kettle of porridge, and place 
a dish at each bed, and they would see no one until I came 
again. I bought my medicines of Post, in Rochester, once 
a month, if I had opportunity. My charges were one dollar 
for the day, and one twenty-five for the night visits, but 
never expected to get it. Aaron Warren was running the 
mill down on the flat when I came here. There was splen- 
did oak timber to the north of the Ridge, and this would 
be floated down Sandy Creek. John Phelps, near Albion, 
had apples and plums in 1825, but he would not let me 
have any unless I returned the pits. 



228 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEE XII. 

EARLY. MILITARY HISTORY. 

THE war in which we gained our independence from the 
mother country taught our people the great necessity 
we were under of having a miHtia, or military force, not 
only in the state, but in every county and town. A well- 
organized force, from the first settlement of this country, 
would have been a source of great strength and safety, 
where in each district could have been stored guns, artil- 
lery, and all the munitions preparatory to " bloody war," 
and if we had remembered this. Bunker Hill would have 
had powder and lead enough to have driven the red-coats 
back into Boston harbor with their wounded, leaving the 
dead on the field. In looking back to our old laws, we find 
that measures were taken very early to enroll the able- 
bodied male inhabitants of this state into a militia, from 
divisions down to companies, including all the ofiicers, from 
the staff to the corporal and drum-major. The number of 
these officers was so great, when we reach the private, that 
it naturally created a rivalry, each officer hoping to mount 
the ladder of promotion, and each private of ambitious 
character desirous of raising in the scale of advancement. 
Such a feeling as this had a direct tendency to inspire 
pride and martial bearing, not only of the officers, but also 
of the privates, and this brought our town in rivalry with 
the others, from the company up to the brigade and corps. 
And this show of superiority could only be manifested at 
what was then called training days, either of the town, or 
at some general training, when a whole county would meet 



EARLY MILITARY HISTORY. ■'-'■' 

to drill and parade, not only under the eyes of the officers 
but with hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of bright 
eyes and anxious hearts interested in the success of their 
favorites Grounds would be selected where the foot could 
move unobstructed by the rise or fall in the campus, and 
the artillery would choose the most available spot in which 
to display their gunnery, while the dragoons found it much 
<.asier to charge and retreat when their bodies were secure 
in the saddles. This would do for holiday warfare, but it 
would have been wisdom for such peaceful soldiery to have 
been forced to take to the woods, like Braddock, and there 
demonstrate how they would have acted at such a mo- 
ment, and who would have been the Washington to bring 
them ofl the field in any respectable order. But many 
of these mighty warriors of the militia-day never looked 
the British Lion in the face, and the only smoke they ever 
snuffed was that of blank cartridges, and if they shed any 
of their precious blood for their town or county it was 
purely the result of ignorance or carelessness. It was well 
for the state and nation that we thus accustomed ourselves 
to look at cannon and muskets, solid shot, grape and canis- 
ter, so that when our great struggle came, which was for- 
ever to settle our standing as a family in the circle of gov- 
ernments, we were able to abide the day, and demonstrate 
that no braver souls ever before met in conflict, or, like 
giants in mortal combat, fought to the death for su- 
premacy. Although the bloody garment of war has been 
buried in the trenches of the past, side by side with the 
noble who have fallen from Maine to Texas, it would be 
wise for the people once more to organize upon a militia 
basis, not as in fear of war, but to encourage that generous 
emulation which the cherishing of association naturally 
brings about, that we at present are rapidly forgetting ; for 
the brino-in:^ together of towns, counties and districts in 
the militia service of this grand Empire State would cer- 



230 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

tainly introduce that feeling of brotherhood, and I might 
add sisterhood and motherhood, the lack of which we feel 
nt every moment when we wish to move as a single body in 
<iny important measure. Every county in this state should 
have its regiment, made up of companies from the several 
towns, proportionately to the population, and the expense 
of the company should be made a town tax, and of higher 
officers from the county at large, according to the ratio of 
taxation. This would make the military force one not 
only of strength and efficiency, but would insure its main- 
tenance beyond a doubt in such a manner that the burden 
would be light, and all the people interested in the estab- 
lishment and continuance. 

In collecting the material for the early militia history of 
Clarendon, we found ourselves face to face with certain 
obstacles that we had not the power to remove, and over 
which or through which we could not pass. In vain may 
the best officer in the world hope for success unless he have 
the means in his power and at his disposal, which all 
generals, from Hannibal down to Burgoyne and Bonaparte, 
have demonstrated beyond a question. 

In looking about for assistance, we fortunately found 
Colonel N. E. Darrow, of Clarendon, who, from his 
memory at seventy-five years of age, gave us the following 
data, which we shall here present, to give our people some 
idea of what Clarendon was in her day of militia glory. 
In 1814, there was one company of Clarendon infantry, 
and their place of training was across from Captain Stephen 
Martin's, on the Byron road, where now Orange Lawrence 
and Adelbert Carr hold property. The officers were as 
follows : 

Captain — Steplien Martin. 1st Sergeant — Nathaniel Smith. 

1st Lieutenant — Shubael Lewis. 3d Sergeant — William Dodge. 
2d Lieutenant — David Glidden. Corporal — Erastus S. Cone. 



EARLY MILITARY HISTORY. 231 

We are not able to give the number of privates in this 
company, and if the list was complete it would, at such an 
early date, have taken in most of the able-bodied men in 
the town. This company held its own until 1818, when it 
was divided into two parts, the one to the north part of 
the town and the other to the south. In the north the 
officers were as below : 

Captain — Erastus S. Cone. Orderly Sergeant — Wm. Dodge. 

1st Lieutenant — Cyrus Hood. 2d Sergeant — Moses Wooley. 

2d Lieut. — Alexander Annis. 3d Colonel 215th Regt. — N. Smith. 

The training of this north company was held at Cone's, 
where now Anson Salisbury lives, on the Hulberton road, 
where the generous and big-hearted Cone, with his most 
excellent lady, got up a grand dinner for the brave soldier 
laddies, which is not covered up by the garbage of Time. 
The south company paraded to the south of Captain Mar- 
tin's, in the meadow, on the east side of Byron road, and 
was officered as follows : 

Captain — Shubael Lewis. Ensign — Samuel L. Stevens. 

1st Lieutenant — Zardeus Tousley. 

After this organization Shubael Lewis was made major 
of the 215th Kegiment at a general training at Clarkson 
Corners, and Zardeus Tousley promoted to captain and then 
rising to the colonelcy of the 215th Regiment for one year, 
while Samuel L. Stevens was lifted up to be first lieutenant 
in the south company of 1818. In 1824-25, Lewis was 
made colonel of the 215th Regiment, from which he derived 
his name of " Colonel," as he was generally known, and 
the same year Joshua Vincent, who afterwards became 
general, was made lieutenant-colonel. In 1825, an artillery 
company was formed, with the officers here given : 

Captain — Aretas Pierce. 2d Sergeant — John Miller. 

1st Lieutenant — Myron Bronson. 2d Corporal — Lewis Darrow. 
Ensign — Arvey Whitney. 4th Corporal — Nicholas E. Darrow. 

Orderly Sergeant — Hubbard Rice. 



232 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

This company of gunners trained at Bigelow's Corners, 
near the Ridge road, in Murray, with one field-piece, a six- 
pounder of iron, which was at last taken to the Batavia 
arsenal. The uniform was blue at first ; afterward, white 
pants, with swords by their gallant sides and feathers 
streaming gaily from their cocked hats. In 1826, Remick 
Knowles, of the Hulberton road, drew this mighty six- 
pounder, at a general training at Bergen, with two horses, 
in grand style, to the delight of all present. These wheeled 
into line in 1833, when the 25th Regiment of Artillery had, 
from Clarendon, Hubbard Rice as major and then lieutenant- 
colonel, and rising to be colonel, which accounts for his 
honor, while N. E. Darrow rose to be first lieutenant, then 
captain and at last colonel, which name he holds at this 
day. 

The year above mentioned. Wood, of Rochester, was 
lieutenant-colonel, and the Honorable William H. Seward, 
of Auburn, brigadier of the eighth brigade. If we judge 
the whole 25th Regiment of Artillery by the persons we have 
given, they must have been a fine lot of men, of which any 
town or state could justly be proud. How the good people 
of Clarendon would enjoy the sight of such a company in 
their blue and white, performing those beautiful evolutions 
which the artillery practice requires. Back in 1820, Clar- 
endon could boast of a light infantry company, which 
strutted before the astonished inhabitants, before Claren- 
don was named, in their dress of Scotch plaid, imitating 
the braw Highlander, with shining muskets, stove-pipe 
hats made short, with feather rising proudly above, and 
their officers you may know : 

Captain — Pierrepoint. Captain — Homer C. Cook, 

1st Lieutenant — N. W. Perry. 1st Lieutenant — James T. Lewis. 

2d Lieutenant — William Dodge. 2d Lieutenant — Merrick Stevens. 
Orderly Sergeant — Moses Wooley. 



EARLY MILITARY HISTORY. 23f^ 

These included the division as in 1818 into two parts, 
but separate companies as to uniform and drill. Lieuten- 
ant Lewis rose from this humble position in old Clarendon 
to that height where, during the great rebellion, he could, 
as governor of the Badger State, control all her forces by 
the stroke of his pen. The age of training in the militia 
was from eighteen up to forty-five years of age, when men 
are supposed to be in the glory of their strength. The 
penalty for non-compliance with the law was five dollars, 
which was only enforced by a court-martial, and these were 
held at Sandy Creek, down on the Ridge road, a very con- 
venient place for the soldiers to meet from different portions 
of the county in those wooden days. 

When Nicholas E. Darrow was made colonel of the 25th 
Regiment of Artillery, it had eight companies and could 
muster nearly one thousand men. If such a regiment 
could meet at this day in Orleans county to have their 
regular drill, the roads would be lined with carriages and 
the trains on the railroads bringing their thousands to 
witness the novel spectacle. Many of these officers which 
we have named have many years ago taken their last drill 
in the ranks of life, and have not only laid down the sword 
of action, but have disrobed themselves of the uniform of 
their lower state of existence, having joined that greater 
army just beyond the banks of that river we must all 
march through, leaving our knapsacks and accoutrements 
on this side. It would be well if Clarendon would raise 
from the dust a militia tree or park to keep the memory 
of these early officers fresh and green in her heart. 

We are able, by the aid of Colonel John Berry, of Holley, 
to give the roll of officers of the 215th Regiment, 53d 
Brigade, and 23d Division of Infantry of the Militia of the 
State of New York^ as corrected at brigade officer's drill at 
Gaines, on the 30th and 31st of August, 1838. 



234 



HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



List of Officers. 



Field. 



Colonel — Chauncey W. Bivins, 

John Berry. 

Lieut.-Col. — Samuel W, Gibson. 



Major — Stephen P. Soule, 
George W. Holmes. 



Staff. 



Sergeant — John D. Wood. 
Adjutant — Walter R. San ford. 
Adjutant — John Berry. 
^Quartermaster — Lewis D. Ferry. 
Paymaster — Wm. B. Jewell. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant — Jona- 
than Sprague. 



Sergeant Standard-bearer — Wm, 

D. AUis. 
Drum-Major — Aram Beebe. 
Fife — Henry Crannell. 
Captain — George W. Holmes. 
Ensign — Ansel Hann. 
Benjamin Hunt. 



Company Officers. 



Drtptain — Erastus P. Mills. 
Lieutenant — Smith Glidden. 
Ensign — Sidney Cox. 
1st Sergeant — Ebenezer Reed. 
2d Sergeant — Thos. E. Inman. 
3d Sergeant — Marvin Snyder. 
4th Sergeant — Loyal Palmer. 
1st Corporal — William Bates. 

Captain — Henry Pierce. 
Lieutenant — Aaron E. French. 
Ensign — Rufus Brackett. 
1st Sergeant — Samuel Salsbury. 
^d Sergeant — George Goold. 
3d Sergeant — John Hallock. 

Captain — Thomas W. Maine. 

Lieutenant — Merrick Stevens. 

Ensign — Merritt Cook. 

1st Sergeant — Stephen Wyman. 

2d Sergeant — Homer Cook. 

3d Sergeant — John W. Woodruff. 

Captain — Frederick E. Perry. 
Lieutenant — Richard S. Jewell. 
Ensign — Barnard Sawyer. 

Captain — Charles F. Cramer. 
Lieutenant — Albert Potter. 
Ensign — Levi Starr. 
1st Sergeant — John E. G. Frisbie. 
2d Sergeant — Milton Littlefield. 
3d Sergeant — Andrew Garrison, 



2d Corporal — Clement C. Hoskins. 

3d Corporal — Nelson Bennett. 

Musicians — Warren Glidden, 
Lyman Matson, Myron D. Sny- 
der, Erastus Catler, Menzo Lam- 
bert, Isaac C. Hall, Alvinza Hill, 
Dan Martin, Gilbert Alexander. 



4th Sergt. — Ferdinand B. Hubbard. 
1st Corporal — Frederick Salsbury. 
2d Corporal — Harvey Root. 
3d Corporal — John Nelson. 
4th Corporal — Bloomer Hart. 
Musician — Jonathan Hunt. 

4th Sergeant — James T. Lewis. 
1st Coiporal — Levi Coy. 
2d Corporal — Noble Bolton. 
3d Corporal — Loami Clark. 
4th Corporal — Austin Beemer. 
Musician — Daniel Stanard. 

2d Corporal — Hudson Baker. 
Musicians — William Knight and 
Henry Crouse. 

4th Sergeant — Saml. C!. Bateman. 
1st Corporal — Frederick Hatch. 
2d Corporal — Roswell Richardson. 
3d Corporal — Jonathan E. Glover. 
4th Corporal — Levi Smith. 
Musician — W. W. Benton. 



EARLY MILITARY HISTORY. 235 

Captain — Alvia Ogden. 1st Corporal — E. A. Thompson. 

Lieutenant — Odell. 2d Corporal — William Garnett, 

Ensign — Joseph Ogden. 3d Corporal — Erastus Hamlin. 

1st Sergeant — Steuben Forbes. 4th Corporal — Moses Hendrick. 

2d Sergeant — Wm. Walton. Musicians — P. L. Smith, Solomon 
3d Sergeant — Joseph C. Smith. Weeks, Isaac Wilson, 

4th Sergt. — Nathaniel S. Bennett. 

Captain — Alanson Soule. 1st Corporal — Alfred Crane. 

1st Lieutenant — Orrin J. Smith. 2d Corporal — Ashael Collins. 

2d Lieutenant — Horace Bliss. 3d Corporal — John Casey. 

1st Sergeant — James H Spicer. 4th Corporal — Elijah Hall. 

2d Sergeant — David Elza. Musicians — Napoleon Lake, Reu- 

3d Sergeant — George W. Holmes, ben Rice, Almond Rice. 

4th Sergeant — Nathaniel Mead. 

Captain — N. E. Darrow, 4th Sergeant — Elezur Goodrich. 

Lieutenant — Silas Day. 1st Corporal — David N. Hatch. 

Ensign — L. Sawyer. 2d Corporal — E. D. Rorabeck. 

1st Sergeant — Harry Darrow. 3d Corporal — Horace Farwell. 

2d Sergeant — Ira Bronson, 4th Corporal — Melburn Sisson. 
3d Sergeant— H, B. Hall. 

In the roll of 1840 we have the following list of officers : 

Colonel — John Berry. Color-bearer — Daniel M. Reed. 

Lieutenant — F. R. Goold. Drum-major — Aram Beebe. 

Major — George W. Holmes. Fife-major — Henry Crannell. 

Adjutant — J. Sprague, Supernumeraries — Alvin Ogden, 
Quartermaster — Lewis D. Ferry. Charles Eliott. 
Paymaster — Wm. B. Jewell. 

Daniel F. St. John also gives us information in relation 
to the militia of 1841 to 1843. At this time John Berry, 
of Holley, was a colonel, and Higgins, of Kendall, and 
John B. Lee brigadier-general. Daniel F. St. John was 
first lieutenant, and afterward promoted to be captain, and 
his papers were signed by William H. Seward. Jacob Odell 
was lientenant-colonel, and Frank Gould major of the regi- 
ment. The Clarendon company would train in David 
Sturges' meadow, to the east of his brick-house, on Brock- 
port street. Drills were held at Holley, Gaines and Ken- 
dall. The uniform at this time was a blue coat faced with 
white woolen, straight sword-belt and silk sash. The hat 
had a tall plume iu front. The pants were blue, with white 
stripe. 



23 B HISTORY OF CLAREN^DON. 

At this time there were nine companies, one from each 
town in the county, and sixty men in each company. Each 
man had to foot his own bill of expenses, and a week in a 
year was spent at the drill. The clothing for the captain cost 
forty dollars. All above regimental officers were trimmed in 
yellow. The artillery also trained at Scottsville, where, with 
B.^-gen, were the headquarters in 1833. At Bergen the boys 
had a sham-battle with the cavalry, and Major Downs, of 
8andy Creek, was present. There were companies from York, 
LeRoy, Scottsville, Batavia, Rochester, Stafford, Brockport 
iind Clarendon in the artillery. The cavalry charged three 
times on left, right and left flanks, and the cavalry were 
driven from the field, and Shepherd Foster, of Clarendon, 
would rush out and bring in the fallen cavalrymen. The 
militia also had a sham-battle at Albion once upon a time. 
General training would occur once a year, and company 
training in September, after the harvest was over. 

We should be pleased to give more of the militia history 
of that day, when Clarendon and her sons were distin- 
guished, but nearly fifty years have elapsed, and this is a 
long period of time to bridge over, when we reflect that so 
many of the actors have disappeared from the stage of ac- 
tion, and those that are now left have for so long a time 
been engaged in different pursuits of life, which have drawn 
their minds away from the memory of martial glory, and 
the associations which naturally cluster around such occa- 
sions. 



CLARENDON DOCTORS. 237 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

CLARENDON DOCTORS. 

CLARENDON, as every other town in the state, required 
not only the skill of the mother in relation to the care 
of the sick in her own household, but also the experience 
and knowledge of the doctor, who had made this profession 
a study, and was supposed to be acquainted with remedies, 
diagnosis, prognosis, and all other medical learning which 
naturally came within his province. In a new country, 
where the plow would turn up the fresh mold, filled with 
rank vegetation, which must decay ; or in the burning-over 
of large areas of slashing and clearing, there would, of ne- 
cessity, arise a change in the atmosphere which, added to 
the presence of stagnant pools, surface water, and springs 
in unhealthy localities, produced what was then called 
chill-fevers, or intermittent fevers, with ague shaking one, 
either daily, or at regular periods ; the whole system poi- 
soned with the malaria, the stomach clogged with bile, and 
the system completely deranged, and turned upside down. 
The same diseases would have swept off the Indian, if he 
had been a tiller of the soil, and how our fathers and 
mothers were able to clear up the country, with the sick all 
about them, is to us a mystery. 

Horace Peck states that at one time his house was a hospi- 
tal, and in many neighborhoods there were not well persons 
enouofh to take care of the sick. And when we remember 
the wilderness in which these pioneers settled, the long dis- 
tances to be traveled by the doctors, who were few and far 
between, added to the remedies used, such as calomel and 



238 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

jalap, blood-letting, herb-teas, and the ignorance of the day, 
we can acconnt for the most miserable condition in which 
the settlers must have been placed. If the food of that 
day had been of the right character, or the log-cabins com- 
fortable, but such was not the case; and in many instance* 
the doctor found himself face to face with the sick and 
well, all in one room, poorly situated, and where the pres- 
ence of so much disease was sure to generate the spread of 
the contagion. 

The first regular physician was Benjamin Bnssey, who 
lived alternately at the old place on Holley street, where 
Luke Turner passed away, and also in a log-hut where now 
William Stuckey resides, on Brockport road. This doctor 
went from house to house with his pill-bags, administering 
the favorite mercury of that day, while the mothers kept 
on hand picra, and, in a later time, pills, castor-oil, rhu- 
barb, paregoric, and sulphur with molasses in the spring, 
the child taking the same from a stick, just before break- 
fast. In this pill-bag of the doctor could also be found the 
awful turnkey, which he wound with a handkerchief before 
the tooth was extracted, and when it came the patient felt 
as if the top of his head was coming off. Bussey was con- 
sidered a good physician by the old pioneers, and, after 
many years of practice, passed away to the east, but again 
returned when old age had nearly deprived him of his use- 
fulness. 

Henry Carter came into Clarendon as a young doctor, at 
an early day, and was considered a person of much skill 
and judgment. He had a good practice, which was con- 
tinually increasing, but old Death tapped at the doorway of 
his system and bore him away, leaving his remedies and 
professional knowledge behind. 

Dr. Jonathan Howard was well known to all the county 
round, and no man could better make a pill or spread a 
plaster ; while Dr. T. H. Noyes had his pill-bags in a small 



CLARENDON DOCTORS. 239 

• 

house below the red store in 1832. It would be worth read- 
ing and knowing the practice of such physicians, and their 
bills of medicine furnished, and patients visited, with the 
proportion of cures and deaths; all would make up a 
chronicle that would demand attention, not only from the 
unlearned in the school of medicine, but also from those 
who, at the present day, have laid aside Wood and Watson 
to adopt Flint and Dalton. It would seem, from a poem 
which Willard Glidden composed on Clarendon Village, 
that in 1836 was a doctor who did "electerize" — which 
must have been an attempt to introduce electricity, which 
was hardly known to the profession at this time. 

John Titus, of Ilolley, was one of the best physicians in 
the county, and the judgment he possessed of the human 
system and its diseases made him an authority of the high- 
est class. 

Hiram B. Lewis, when a young man, began his practice 
in Clarendon, and, not meeting with the best of success 
here, moved into Albion, where he became famous; and his 
gig could be seen for many long years upon all the country 
roads, night and day, the doctor driving his horse furiously 
through the mud and mire, or sending clouds of dust to 
follow in his train. No other physician from Clarendon 
has, during his practice, driven so many miles, as he was 
sent for by the old residents, both to take charge and to 
hold consultation, every month in the year, and he ten 
miles away. When he hopped out of his carriage, on his 
club-foot, his form bending low to the ground, one could 
well understand, by the looks of his firm-set jaws, that he 
meant business, and he moved into the sick-room as one 
born to command. The doctor was a man of original 
thought, witty and quick of reply, with an eye that never 
quailed and a countenance that never blanched. But he 
could not overcome his old friend Death, and is now gath- 
ered to his professional circle, where his patients and many 



240 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

friends welcomed him, while his son, Tousley Lewis, re- 
mains in Albion in his stead, as a genuine chip of the old 
block. 

In 1850, at the age of 33, Dr. S. E. Southworth laid 
down his medicine chest in the house where now Gordon 
St. John resides. The doctor was a large, well-built man, 
of pleasing manners, and no physician of Clarendon liad 
more friends and warmer hearts in his keeping than he. 
He was very kind to the poor, ready at any moment to at- 
tend to their calls, and doing his very best to lift them out 
of the dungeons of disease and despair. His mind was of 
that superior order which at once seemed to understand the 
patient's case, and his remedies were of that class which 
insured recovery, unless the sufferer was beyond hope. He 
Avas a general favorite with all the people, and to the chil- 
dren he seemed as one possessed of wonderful powers, that 
were covered with that native grace which always claimed 
their love. 

Many were the sad faces that took a last look at the doc- 
tor, as he lay cold and motionless, with his arms across his 
breast, and his face wearing that noble appearance which 
death could not obscure. It was a matter of living shame, 
both to the town and strangers, that so many of his patients 
refused, or failed to come forward and settle up with his 
beautiful wife after the doctor had departed. But such is 
ingratitude, that it ever delights to wound, when the blow 
is the deepest, and the effect most lasting. 

William H. Watson moved into Clarendon soon after the 
passing of Dr. Southworth. At first he was unsuccessful, 
but experience and practice, united to indomitable pluck 
and perseverance, rapidly brought him to the front, and 
this place he held until he changed his quarters to Suspen- 
sion Bridge, and afterward to New York, where he has 
made himself noted, both as a surgeon in Bellevue Hospi- 
tal, and at present up-town as a leading physician. He 



CLARENDON DOCTORS. 241 

ever reminded us of the picture of Napoleon, whicli may be 
seen in " Bourrienne's Memoirs," with this exception, tliat 
the doctor had strabismus of both eyes, so that he could 
not look straight, when his mind was as true as a line. If 
the patient was in the arms of despair, he would at once 
open up the windows of hope, and unless old Death had 
liis foreclosure already in the Court of Fate, he would send 
the monster away to hunt up some other victim. His drive 
before he left Clarendon was very large, and every hour he 
was as busy as a bee from one end of the town to the other. 
The author well remembers, when a lad, of Harrison South- 
worth, who had a severe toothache, daring him, who had no 
pain, to go to Dr. Watson's, and, in company with him, 
have a tooth extracted. We accordingly entered the house, 
where David P. Wilcox now domiciles, and Harrison in- 
formed the doctor that he wanted a tooth pulled out. " Sit 
down," was his quick reply. Out came the forceps, open 
went his mouth, a deep "Ah!'^ and tlie doctor held the 
bloody tooth up to view. Then the author, with a benign 
look, quietly moved into the vacant chair, when the Doc- 
tor, out of his cross-eyes, gave him one sharp look, and 
then said: '^ Which tooth do you want pulled?" ** Oh, 
back there," he replied, at the same time placing his finger 
on a molar that had no more ache at the moment than one 
of the dentals. '' Oh, you have not got any toothache," 
said the wise master of the instrument, and we retired out 
of that chair in as good order as possible, only to be mocked 
at by Harrison for not being as brave as he. The doctor 
lived also in the old Farwell mansion, on Main street, and 
built the house where now John Wright sojourns, on Wood- 
ruff avenue. He was possessed not only of medical skill 
and ability, but on the platform was a spirit of power when 
Democracy desired an advocate, and Clarendon lost one of 
her best citizens when he hied away to now fields of labor, 
near the roar of old Niagara. 
11 



242 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Through the glass of memory we can see Dr. Shubael H. 
Dutton, who had a hard time at first battling with Dr. 
Watson for a place in the hearts of the people. His old 
sulky would move daily forth upon its journey from the 
plastered house which Joseph A. Bryan completed, and he 
must have spent many weary hours on Clarendon roads, 
when his heart was sick, deathly sick, because the physi- 
cally sick would not employ him. But he bore in his mind 
that old motto of Scott's Ravenswood — '^I bide my time," 
and over all opposition, through adversity and defeat, he 
came off at last more than con querer. After the depart- 
ure of Dr. Watson he rose in the scale wonderfully, and 
demonstrated to the public that all he wished was a chance 
to show that he was able to hold his own, which he did 
against all comers, until he, too, was gathered to the same 
home with his patients, and those who never knew his ser- 
vices. The doctor was fine-looking, having a stately car- 
riage; one who gloried in his profession, with a mind as 
clear as a May morning, a pleasant smile"and greeting that 
we ever loved to meet. In obstetrics, he has had no equal in 
Clarendon, and in diseases affecting the intestines he was 
so fortunate that he boasted, and truly, of not losing a case 
in twenty years. He informed the author that in his early 
practice he had two children on his hands very sick with 
dysentery, one of which he had no hopes of saving, and 
the other but little faith in recovery. As he was riding 
over the road, lamenting to himself the mortality which 
was then prevalent in this dangerous disease, an inspiration 
seemed to give him a new remedy. When he reached the 
sick-room he tried his experiment upon the sickest child, 
and followed old Wood upon the other. The result was 
his new rule succeeded, and as usual Dr. Wood buried his 
patient. From that day he followed his angel doctor, and 
threw Dr. Wood to the dogs, or overboard, and never lost a 
case of this character. 



CLARENDON DOCTORS. 243 

When Joseph Thompson returned from the bloody civil 
war, he was only the shadow of life, and chronic diarrhea 
had almost carried his soul out of his tabernacle of skin 
and bones. Dr. Button took him home, and Thompson 
can thank his stars that this physician met him in the dark 
and sickly journey of existence. 

The doctor had a ,j<enius for song- writing, and composed 
a book of campaign pieces, set to music by John Mills, con- 
taining much merit, and all in praise of ^' Honest Old Abe.'' 
In Judge Farwell's old home he passed over the river by 
that terrible disease, consumption, and no one has filled his 
place in the niche of medicine. For a short time 0. G. 
Badlau could be seen upon the highways of our native 
town, but his peace and prosperity went down the stream 
of failure with petticoats, and woman's nnbridled tongue 
at the peak as a signal of distress. His office contained the 
tanned hide of a negro, cut from the leg, which reminded 
us of the Fiji Islanders. 

Then Charles S. Pugsley came upon the medical carpet, 
and Dr. Button's sickness gave him a fine opportunity to 
show his skill. He always drove the best team he could 
obtain, and no other doctor, to our knowledge, went out in 
better style, or returned from his patients as dashingly as 
he. Now the Carey village of oaks, and beautiful open- 
ings, commands his attention, and his drug business and 
medical practice demand his time, where he may be seen, as 
usual, behind his fine horses, the admiration of the passer- 
by. One Gifford, by some mysterious movement of Provi- 
dence, was rolled into Clarendon when the author was in 
the Indian Ocean, and how much good he did we know not, 
but when the author returned he found his blessed mother 
dying with consumption, this disciple of Galen having pre- 
pared an external application which drove her disease in- 
wardly, producing in the end death. It was said that this 



244 HISTOEY OF CLARENDON. 

doctor committed suicide at Niagara, but this was after- 
ward contradicted. 

Down at Cape Vincent, near the Thousand Islands, may 
be seen at present E. M. Crabb, who once administered 
medicine to the sick in Clarendon. We sincerely hope that 
the doctor, in his new home, is meeting with that success 
which his talents deserve. In April, 1866, Dr. M. E. Brack- 
ett, the son of John Brackett, now of Holley, entered the 
precincts of Clarendon, and still remains, having his office 
over the Copeland store. The doctor was a young man in 
his calling, and the odds against him were very heavy. 
Year after year he struggled patiently, until his efforts 
brought him all the patients he could conveniently handle 
by night or day. Other physicians have departed, leaving 
him to grow fat and healthy. The darkest and stormiest 
night looks down upon this practitioner, and when he can- 
not travel the rest of the town would do well to remain in- 
doors. As an exception to most doctors, he prefers the 
darkness to the light of day, and his horses can enjoy the 
shade while other nags are toiling in the burden and heat 
of the day. He is a natural doctor, and the town is in- 
debted to him for the introduction of fluid remedies over 
the wholesale and retail poisoning of the system by pow- 
ders and mineral drugs. In the diagnosis of a disease, he 
acts almost from intuition, and his judgment may be 
counted upon in most cases. The doctor is a great lover 
of Audubon and Wilson, and bis collection of stuffed ob- 
jects is not surpassed, or even compared with, by any phy- 
sician we have known. He is blest with a mind of his 
own development, and in all his practice he is essentially 
Bracketian. 

As we write. Dr. John H. O'Brien is preparing to take 
his departure to Pittsburgh, the iron city. The good people 
of Clarendon have learned in the very short time he has 
been among them to know and appreciate his ability, and 



CLARENDON DOCTORS. 245 

those who have been benefited by his medical skill will 
greatly miss his attendance in hours of sickness and suffer- 
ing. But the iron city, where his brother has an extensive 
practice, will open up for him a much larger sphere of 
action, when the future will reward his fondest hopes, if 
the powers above deal gently with his health. 

In 1852, Clarendon had a beautiful girl in her streets, 
whose pleasant face was as a ray of sunlight in the school- 
room or among her associates. Gertrude Farwell moved 
into Holley, and, after years of home life, became a student 
of medicine at New York, and graduated with high honors. 
Her practice in New York, on Lexington avenue, was very 
successful, and she there secured an abiding-place in the 
hearts of the many who loved her, as love only can, with- 
out boundary. She was offered a large salary to take a 
position in Philadelphia, but declined, and the demands of 
home has now placed her in Holley, where she occupies a 
noble and exalted station in the minds and affections of 
all the people. She is the only lady physician that Claren- 
don has sent forth from her borders to do that every-day 
good which her loving and gentle heart is capable of per- 
forming, when the eye of the sufferer appeals for all the 
sympathy of care and kindness. 

In 1842, as appears by the town records, Alden C. Keith 
was town clerk of Clarendon, and when we were only high 
enough to look over a peony we remember him as a doctor, 
living in the house now occupied by David P. Wilcox, on 
Holley street. He had a red-panelled buggy, which then 
attracted our attention, and for some years traveled up and 
down our roads, looking after the sick. As to how many 
died or recovered under his practice we leave the medical 
history of the other side to give the inquisitive knowledge. 
In the north-eastern portion of Clarendon John H. Taylor 
was born, and to-day he is one of the leading physicians in 
Western New York, at Holley. Having a cool, careful, 



2i6 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

studious mind, his judgment must necessarily be of the like 
nature, and he brings into the sick-room all the knowledge 
of his own experience and also the accumulated treasure 
which both the old and new world can furnish in medical 
thought. There is not an old tree or land-mark in Clar- 
endon but has reason to be proud of his birth on her soil, 
and the patronage he receives from her people all daily 
attest how high he reigns in their minds and hearts. 

Another lad from the turf has made Brockport to re- 
spect the skill of Clarendon's sons. Dr. Coleman is rapidly 
rising in his profession in the beautiful village of the 
Brockway's and Seymour's, and if he had never performed 
any other operation than the removal of Tom Fee's eye, 
which he did most successfully, this alone would entitle 
him to the highest praise as one inheriting that peculiar 
skill which makes Dr. Eider, of Kochester, known to both 
continents. 

Years ago a man, nearly blind, walked into George M. 
Copeland's store, in Clarendon, and asked to be trusted for 
a bill of medicine which he wished to compound, amount- 
ing to two dollars and fifty cents. As Dr. Willis Cook, 
now of Brockport, aflirms, this was his first essay in the 
practice of medicine, and for how many long days, weeks, 
months and years he walked in the shadow of darkness 
over the roads of Clarendon the good Lord only knows; but 
time, that sometimes restores the sight and often gives the 
victory to unwearied efforts, at last opened his eyes, and to- 
day this boy of the old Curtis' Cook farm has his Toledo 
diploma, and glories in the fact that he stood nearly at the 
head in his examination and in the nobler truth that he 
loves his profession, and in Brockport is working night and 
day to mount higher and higher in the scale of worth and 
estimation. 

There was one young doctor here in the faded past by 
the name of Cornwell, but we have no records as to his 



CLARENDON DOCTORS. 24T 

practice, only that he was said to possess that pearl of the 
mind — ability. On the Millard road, midway between the 
Christian Church and the Brown school-house, was a 
strange character, who came into the town about the days 
of noble Harry Clay. Dr. Cowing was known to every 
school urcliin on all the road by his long snowy beard, his 
old staflf, his striding walk and peculiar expression of coun- 
tenance, which he wore down to the day of his final change 
over four-score years in the dusty journey of life. He was 
the botanical doctor of Clarendon, and knew more about 
its roots, herbs, weeds and blows than any other person of 
his day. But his old kettle has now taken a final rest, the 
steam from his compounds no longer rises to greet the 
elements beyond ; the fire has gone out upon the hearth, 
the ashes have failed to glow, and all the familiar places 
that once knew him now know him no more forever, un- 
less his spirit hovers as some ghost loth to leave its earthly 
abiding spot. 

In the old yellow house, where Amos Pettengill said 
^' good-by " to this world, in our boyhood days lived Dr. 
Benjamin WoodhuU. To him at one time resorted all the 
sore-eyed from all points of the compass to receive the bene- 
fits which came from the use of his ointments and optical 
treatment. Clarendon was truly an eye infirmary in his 
day of glory, and the streets had more individuals of both 
sexes with patches over their eyes and bandages around 
the head than she ever before or since witnessed. It was 
enough to make even a Bartimas leap with joy to pass into 
his office and know of his many cures. But the venerable 
doctor and his patients have all gone, and the eyes of Clar- 
endon seem much brighter since this departure. 

Outside of Clarendon we might mention a few names of 
physicians who now and then may be seen upon our high- 
ways. From Holley rolls in Armstrong and Gleason, who 
have many friends, and who prefer them above all others. 



248 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the first especially in surgery and the latter in diphtheria 
and many other diseases, when the patient requires some- 
thing different from the ordinary practice of the day, and 
when good common-sense is above all theory and learned 
nonsense. 

In surgery, Dr. Townsend, from Bergen, is always called 
wiien the highest skill is required, and his superior judg- 
ment and fine talents are ever the rest and satisfaction of 
all that demand his services. In dentistry, Benjamin 
Newton at one time had his office above Copeland's store, 
where he made teeth and performed all the other labors of 
his calling to the comfort and final ease of his callers. He 
can now be found in Holley, as ready as ever to hitch on 
or replace the decayed ivories with others more beautiful 
and lasting. 

We might in this chapter dwell upon other doctors, but 
we shall leave their names to appear in connection with 
other circumstances as they shall arise to the surface of 
our observation. To all of these doctors which we have 
mentioned Clarendon owes, and will ever owe, a debt of 
love and gratitude for their days and nights of severest 
toil and exertion, when many of her children were locked 
in the arms of balmy sleep, or enjoying the untold blessings 
of health and absence from suffering. And if any indi- 
vidual, or class of individuals, should receive the monu- 
ments of immortal fame and honor, these are they, who 
have given their own lives to the care and cure of the sick 
and distressed, and their best moments to the comfort of 
the dying. 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 249 



CHAPTEK XIY. 

CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 

rpHE political history of any community in this Republic 
J- is the result of former teaching. This is generally 
upon old issues transmitted from father to son, and it is 
rarely that a change takes place, unless there be also a 
change in the circumstances of the cliildren as they grow 
up to manhood. The political feelings which are strongly 
impressed upon the child weave and interweave their im- 
pressions into his mind, and he almost unconsciously be- 
comes what his parent has been before him. If the family 
in an early day had the benefits arising from different, 
shades of opinion, then there would naturally arise differ- 
ences, each member of the household exercising his own 
right of thought, producing that freedom of action which 
is seldom found in a town where the people are debarred 
the privilege of reading and considering distinct ideas of 
political right. 

The old pioneers had but little opportunity to read news- 
papers, as they were too expensive for their means, and 
they were, therefore, confined to the opinions and judg- 
ments which had been handed down from father to son 
since the administration of Washington. On the one side 
were the Federals, who believed in a strong national gov- 
ernment, and on the other the Republicans, who gloried in 
the principles and teachings of Jefferson, based upon state 
rights, and the paramount authority of the people gen- 
erally. 

When Clarendon was organized out of Sweden, in IS'^l, 



250 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

there were two parties in this state, the one Republicaii, or 
Democratic, and the other Clintonian. The first election 
canvass was in 18'^3, November 3d, 4th and 5th, there be- 
ing at this time tlii^ee polling-places — one at Farwell's Mills, 
or Clarendon Village, in the frame school-house, the other 
at the Polly tavern, on the Brockport, or Fourth Section 
road, and the other at Honest Hill, in the tavern of Colonel 
Shubael Lewis. At this election were cast votes as fol- 
lows, viz.: 

For Senator — James McCall 89 

For Assembly — James Ganson 37 

" Robert Anderson 74 

William Bristol 91 

This canvass is certified to by Jeremiah G-lidden, A. 0. 
Hose, James A. Smith, Henry Hill and Zardeus Tousley, 
inspectors of election, and recorded November 6, 1823, by 
Alpha 0. Rose, town clerk. This was a Democratic vic- 
tory, as the Clinton ians only elected a few senators, or mem- 
bers, as appears from the '' Political History of New York," 
by Jabez D. Hammond. 

In 1824 a defection had taken place in the supporters of 
Gov. Yates, and the Albany Regency had stepped to the 
front and taken Col. Young, who had, a short time before, 
been the favorite of the People's party. In this election 
the Clarendon supporters of Col. Young gave him a major- 
ity, although he was defeated in the state, by over 16,000 
votes, by De Witt Clinton. The vote was as follows: 

For Governor — Samuel Young 149 

De Witt Clinton 86 

For Senator — Robert Talmadge 149 

'• James Talmadge 84 

For Congress — Isaac Wilson 149 

" Parmenio Doans 83 

For Assembly — Otis Turner 142 

" Shubael Dunham 82 

This vote is given by Jeremiah Glidden, N. W. Perry, 
Shubael Lewis, Henry Hill, A. 0. Rose, inspectors of olec- 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 251 

tion, and recorded by Nath. W. Perry, November 5, 1824. 
This defeat of Col. Young was the result of the removal 
hy the legislature from the board of canal commissioners of 
De Witt Clinton, who had held the position for fourteen 
years, with marked ability. 

The first election canvass for Orleans county, in Claren- 
don, was held May 10, 11 and 12, 1825, to elect one sheriff 
one county clerk, and four coroners for the same. The 
vote was as follows: 

For Sheriff— William Lewis. ... 17q 

Martin Day ^i.^ 

Gilbert Howel "^t 

For Clerk— Orson Nickerson.... ooa 

" Fitch Chamberlain....*.' qn 

For Coroner— Franklin Cowden . . 990 

Henry More [" ^ f^^ 

ShubaelLewis ..]'/, Jgg 

Chauncey Wood worth [..', 51 

Lyman Turner ^r^ 

Elisha M. Gould [[ 2. 

" Jonathan Hi bbard. . i?q 

I* Robert M. Brown ...'.'.'.'.'.'.'..', 6 

Joseph Kinney T 

R.Brown.... .;;;;;;;;;;;;;;•;; j 

S. Lewis ^ 

F. Cowden i 

H . M o r e .''.'.'.'.'!.'.'.';.';.* J 

Henry Hill, Nath. W. Perry, Ash'l Mead, Jeremiah Glid- 
den, inspectors of election, and recorded by Nath W 

iTT^; ^^.*^"' '^''''™' ""^ '^^ that William Lewis, the 
hrst sheriff for Orleans county, was from Clarendon, and 
Shubael Lewis, also of the same town, was made one of the 
coroners. 

o.u" ^f^f-^" *'"'''■''" °*"™'^ «'a^ '^eld on November 7th, 
8th and 9th, for tlie purpose of choosing electors for Presi- 
dent and Vice-President of the United States. Fifty-five 
votes were given, on which was written or printed, or partly 
written and printed, the words, '^ By general ticket-ma- 
jority. Fourteen voted were given, on which was written 
or printed, or partly written or printed, the words, " By 



252 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

districts." One vote was given, on which was written or 
printed, or partly written and printed, the words, " By 
general ticket — plurality," bearing the names of the same 
inspectors as above. This was a new way of voting, which 
the Albany Regency pushed through the legislature as an 
excuse for not passing an electoral law, requiring that the 
result of this voting should be certified to the legislature, 
at its first meeting, by the secretary of state. This first 
called for three boxes at the several polls, in one of which 
each voter might deposit a ballot on which should be writ- 
ten, " By districts," or, " By general ticket — plurality," or, 
" By general ticket — majority." 

The presidential election was in favor of John Quincy 
Adams, by New York casting the balance, through Henry 
Clay, in his favor. If we judge from the election canvass 
given below, Clarendon must have been a Regency town, 
and in favor of Jackson for President, as Ethan B. Allen 
was elected seiiator from the eighth district. The vote 
stood as follows : 

For Senator — Benedict Brooks 153 

Ethan B. Allen 45 

For Assembly— A. G. B. Grant 139 

Otis Turner . 57 

At this time Clarendon was opposed to the administra- 
tion of Governor Clinton, Avhy, we cannot understand, 
when it must have been known to every voter that the issue 
upon which he was elected was really the Erie canal, which 
should have been paramount to all other interests in their 
minds, as opening up a way to good markets and better 
prices, with a sure and certain development of the country. 
But the way of the politician is so crooked that there is no 
accounting for the action of his followers. 

On the first Monday of November, 1826, an election was 
held, to submit to the people of the State of New York 
certain amendments proposed to the Constitution, passed 



CLAKPJNDON IN POLITICS. 253 

April 17, 1820, viz. : One hundred and forty-two votes were 
given for electing justices of the peace by the people, and 
for extending the elective franchise. Hiram Frisbie, Zar- 
deus Tousley, Nathaniel Warren and Silas Carter were in- 
spectors of election. 

Election Canvass Nov. 9, 10 and 11, 1826. 

For Governor — William B. Rochester 113 

Be Witt Clinton 99 

For Lieut.-Governor — Nathaniel Pitcher 112 

" " Henry Huntington 101 

For Senator — Charles H. Carroll 114 

" John Van Possen 98 

For Congress — David E, Evans 107 

" Simeon Cummings 86 

For Assembly — Abraham Cantine 103 

Elihu Mather 77 

William S. Babbitt 26 

** James Henry 1 

Inspectors as above. In this election the dominant 
party, the Regency, in Clarendon lost their governor and 
secured their lieutenant-governor, and also their senator. 
The great Morgan excitement induced many persons to vote 
against Governor Clinton, he being a high priest of the 
General Grand Chapter of the United States at this time; 
but the anti-Masons did not, in Clarendon, know that 
Rochester also belonged to the same fraternity. 

The amendments on which Clarendon voted were carried 
through the state, and removed all restriction to the right 
of suffrage, excepting only citizenship, and a residence of 
six months, which, with the election of a justice of the 
peace by the several towns, gave the people that power which 
before was held at Albany by appointment. The good 
people of Clarendon must have been surprised when they 
were informed by Gov. Clinton that the first year of the 
Erie Canal had brought into the treasury $771,780.10, and 
the whole canal debt not $8,000,000. " Clinton's Ditch," 
as it was sneeringly called, had opened the eyes of thou- 
sands, who have left no record of repentance for making 



254 HISTORY OF CLAREXDON. 

this statement. We now arrive at that point in the history 
of the state and Clarendon when the Regency, or Demo- 
crats, had, by pushing the name of Andrew Jackson for- 
ward, under the leadership of Martin Van Buren, secured 
the control of politics. 

Election Canvass, November 5, 6 and 7, 1827. 

For Congress — Phineas L. Tracev 268 

William H. Tisdale 9 

For Senator— Timothy H. Porter 206 

For Assembly — Lyman Bates 202 

" George W. Flemming 27 

For Justice of Peace — Nathan W, Perry 47 

Clark Hayes 76 

Elizur Warren 221 

" Ezra Sanford 163 

Benjamin G. Pettingill 236 

William D. Dudley 188 

Inspectors — Chauncey Hood, Alvin Hood, Benjamin G. Petten- 
gill, Ezra Sanford, Chauncey Robinson. 

A great excitement had taken place in the state, and the 
people were divided over the choice of candidates for gov- 
■ernor. The Regency nominated Martin Van Buren, while 
the Anti-Masons were headed by Solomon South wick, and 
the Adams', or People's party by Smith Thompson. 

Election Canvass, November 3, 4 and 5, 1828. 

For Governor — Solomon South wick 161 

" Martin Van Buren 92 

For Lieut. -Governor — John Crary 167 

EnosT. Throop 102 

" " Francis Granger 2 

For Congress — Hiram J. Redfield 110 

Phineas L. Tracy 164 

For Assembly — George W. Flemming 172 

John Chamberlain 179 

For Senator — Philander Bennett 102 

Daniel H. Fitzhugh 102 

George H. Boughton 166 

** Moses Hayden 160 

For Sheriff— William Allis 191 

Guy C. Merrill 93 



CLA.RENDON IN POLITICS. 255 

For County Clerk — Leander WoodruflF 26 

'' " Orson Nickerson 166 

" " William Penniman 76 

" " (Benedict Arnold) Dr. Nickerson. .. . 1 

For Coroner — William Broder 95 

" Mizali Harrington 95 

" John Barmen 95 

" Dan Polly 94 

" Joseph Hart 112 

" Chauncey Robinson 169 

Christian GrofE 170 

Robert M. Brown 171 

For Justice— William D. Dudley 166 

Nathaniel W. Perry 113 

" Nathaniel Perry 1 

" William Dudley 1 

For Presidential Electors — Hiram Frisbie 120 

Shubael Dunham 160 

Inspectors — Chauncey Robinson, Alvin Hood, Chauncey Hood, 
Ezra Sanford, Benjamin G. Pettengill. 

The old town book of Clarendon makes no allusion to 
the election canvasses of 1829, 1830 and 1831, but gives as 
its last record that of 1832. The feeling in the western 
part of the state over the abduction of Morgan had 
coalesced the National Republican party with the Anti- 
Masonic wing, as againt the Jacksonian, or Democratic 
party, and we find mention of the votes given as follows: 

For Governor — (Anti-Mason) — Francis Granger 187 

" (Democratic) — William L, Marcy 135 

For Lieut.-Governor — (Anti-Mason) — Samuel Stevens.. 180 

" " (Democratic) — John Tracy 135 

For Senator — (Anti-Mason) — John Griffin 187 

" (Democratic) — Fletcher M. Haight 135 

For Congress — (Anti-Mason) — Gideon Hard 186 

(Democratic)— Franklin Butterfield 132 

For Assembly — (Anti-Mason) — Asahel Byington 182 

" (Democratic) — John Chamberlain 140 

For Sheriff — (Anti-Mason) — Harmon Goodrich 182 

" (Democratic) — Jessie M. Schofield 139 

The electors for President and Vice-President received, 
on the Anti-Masonic ticket, 187 votes each, and on the Dem- 
ocratic, 135. Elizur Warren, Jona Howard, Alexander 



256 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Milliken and Hiibard Rice, inspectors. This election was 
held on the 5th, 6th and 7th of November, 1833. The 
highest number of votes cast in 1823 was 89 ; in 1825, 224 ; 
in 1826, 114; in 1827, 221; in 1828,167; in 1832,187; 
and this has reference not to the total vote, as this can 
hardly be ascertained by the inspectors' reports. In 1827 a 
resolution was passed providing for four ballot-boxes at 
town meetings, and the tickets were divided, supervisor 
and town clerk on one ticket, assessor, commissioners of 
highways, and overseers of the poor on the second ticket, 
collector and constables on the third ticket, and commis- 
sioners and inspectors of schools on the fourth ticket, and 
that a poll-list should be kept. 

The town meetings and elections in the village were held 
in the frame school-house from 1821 up to 1837, and in 
1837, 1838 and 1839 at Elizur Piatt's tavern, and in this 
hotel until 1849, and then in the present hotel until 1878, 
and from that time until 1888 in the town hall. At a 
special town-meeting, held at the school-house, April 17, 
1822, William Lewis was made assessor in the place of 
Isaac Spencer refusing to serve. On May 8, 1826, a special 
town meeting was held at Hiram Frisbee's, choosing S. Car- 
ter as town clerk, in the place of H. Carter, deceased, 
and Simeon Glidden, Jr., to be constable in the place of 
David Glidden, not accepted. Benjamin G. Pettengill and 
S. Carter, school inspectors, in lieu of H. Carter and Hiram 
Frisbee. A special town meeting. May 1st, elected John 
Wetherbee, Jr., as constable, in place of John Wetherbee, 
Sr., and Stephen Martin, Jr., as sealer, in place of Stephen 
Martin, Sr. Alvan Hood was appointed town clerk in 
place of Silas Carter, deceased, by Nathaniel W. Perry, and 
Elizur Warren, August 14, 1827. At a special town meet- 
ing, held at Horace Perry's, August 30, 1828, Chauncey 
Robinson was elected supervisor in place of Henry Hill, 
who had removed from Clarendon. On April 18, 1834, at 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 



257 



a special town meeting, Ezekiel Hoag was elected poormas- 
ter in place of Daniel Brackett, who refused to serve. At 
a special town meeting, held April 27, 1847, 299 votes were 
cast as follows, viz. : For license, 180 ; no license, 119 ; giv- 
ing a majority for license of 61. 

We are unable to give the party to which the following 
officers, as elected at the several town meetings, belonged, 
but will classify them according to years and position. 

Supervisors. 



1821— Eldredge Farwell. 1855- 

1823— Eldredge Farwell. 1856- 

1823— Jeremiah Glidden. 1857- 

1824— Jeremiah Glidden. 1858- 

1825— Henry Hill. 1859- 

1826— Hiram Frisbie. 1860- 

1827— Nathaniel Warren. 1861- 

1828— Henry Hill. 1862- 

1829— Chauncey Robinson. 1863- 

1830— John Millard. 1864- 

1831— John Millard. 1865- 

1832--Elizur Warren. 1866- 

1833— Elizur Warren. 1867- 

1834— Zardeus Tousley. 1868- 

1835— Horatio Reed. 1869- 

1836— Horatio Reed. 1870- 

1837— Horatio Reed. 1871- 

1838— Horatio Reed. 1872- 
1839— Benjamin G. Pettengill. 1873- 

1840— John Millard. 1874- 

1841— Jason A. Sheldon. 1875- 

1842— Jason A. Sheldon. 1876- 

1843— Jason A. Sheldon. 1877- 
1844— Benjamin G. Pettengill. 1878- 
1845— Benjamin G. Pettengill. 1879- 

1846— Ira B. Keeler. 1880- 

1847— Ira B. Keeler. 1881- 

1848— Orson Tousley. 1882- 

1849— George M. Copeland. 1883- 

1850— George M. Copeland. 1884- 

1851— N. E. Darrow. 1885- 

1852— N. E. Darrow. 1886- 

1853— D. F. St. John. 1887- 

1854— N. E. Darrow. 1888- 



-Dan Martin. 
-Lucius B. Coy. 
-Amasa Patterson. 
-Thomas Turner. 
-George M, Copeland. 
-Dan Martin. 
-Mortimer D. Milliken. 
-Mortimer D Milliken. 
-Martin Evarts. 
-N. E. Darrow. 
-N. E. Darrow. 
-Henry C. Martin. 
-Henry C. Martin. 
-Henry C. Martin. 
-D. N. Pettengill. 
-D. N. Pettengill. 
-D. M. Inman. 
-D. M. Inman. 
-Albert M. Church. 
-P. A. Albert. 
-P. A. Albert. ' 
-P. A. Albert. 
-Albert J. Potter. 
-W. E. Howard. 
-N. O. Warren. 
-W. H. H. Goff. 
-W. H. H. Goff. 
-William H. Inman. 
-William H. Inman. 
-Charles Lusk. 
-William Roberts. 
-Charles Lusk. 
-W. H. H. Goff. 
-W. H. H. Goff. 



258 



HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 



Town Clerk. 



1821- 
1822- 
1823- 
1824- 
1825- 
1826- 
1827- 
1828- 
1829- 
1830- 
1831- 
1832- 
1833- 
1834- 
1835- 
1836- 
1837- 
1833- 
1739- 
1840- 
1841- 
1842- 
1843- 
1844- 
1845- 
1846- 
1847- 
1848- 
1849- 
1850- 
1851- 
1852- 
1853- 
1854- 



1821- 
1822- 
1823- 
1824- 
1825- 
1826- 
1827- 
1828- 
1829- 
1830- 
1831- 
1832- 
1833- 



-Josepli M. Hamilton. 
-Robert Owen. 
-Alpha O. Rose. 
-Nathaniel W. Perry. 
-Nathaniel W. Perry. 
-Henry Carter. 
-Silas Carter. 
-Alvan Hood. 
-John Church. 
-John Church. 
-John Church. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Thomas J. Noyes. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Jonathan Howard. 
-Alden C. Keith. 
-Alden C. Keith. 
-Alden C. Keith. 
-Alden C. Keith. 
-William L. Lewis. 
-Henry Kirby. 
-Henry Kirby. 
-Henry C. Martin. 
-Josiali B. Mansfield. 
-Josiah B. Mansfield. 
-Josiah B. Mansfield. 
-Job L. Potter. 
-Not given. 



1855- 
1856- 

1857- 

1858- 

1859- 

1860- 

1861- 

1862- 

1863- 

1864- 

1865- 

1866- 

1867- 

1868- 

1869- 

1870- 

1871- 

1872- 

1873- 

1874- 

1875- 

1876- 

1877- 

1878- 

1879- 

1880- 

1881- 

1882- 

1883- 

1884- 

1885- 

1886- 

1887- 

1888- 

ASSESSORS. 



-Josiah B. Mansfield. 
-Amasa Patterson. 
-Morris Dewey. 
-Morris Dewey. 
-Morris Dewey. 
-John M. Wetherbee. 
-John M. Wetherbee. 
-John M. Wetherbee. 
-None given. 
-Henry Warren. 
-Henry W^arren. 
-Henry Warren. 
-Orson T. Millard, 
-George D. Warren. 
-T. H. Westcott. 
-William H. Westcott. 
-William H. Westcott. 
-William H. Westcott. 
-William H. Westcott. 
-Frank H. Martin. 
-George P. Preston. 
-George P. Preston. 
-Frank F. Turner. 
-Frank F. Turner. 
-D. C. St. John. 
-D. C. St. John. 
-Willis E. Hardenbrook. 
-Willis E. Hardenbrook. 
-N. H. Darrow. 
-N. H. Darrow. 
-M E. Brackett. 
-George Mathes. 
-Gordon L. St. John. 
-Gordon L. St. John. 



-Reuben Lucas, William Lewis, Henry Hill. 
-R. W, Vining, M. Spencer, L. Humphrey. 
-Henry Hill, J. A. Smith, Zard. Tousley. 
-Henry Hill, J. A. Smith, Shubael Lewis. 
-Jeremiah Glidden, Asdel Nay, Abel Mead. 
-Jeremiah Glidden, Nathaniel Warren, Z. Tousley. 
-Ezra Sanford, B. G. Pettengill, Chan. Hood. 
-Ezra Sanford, B. G. Pettengill, Chan. Hood. 
-T. Templeton, J. Millard, Chan. Hood. 
-T. Templeton, T. Brintnall, Chan. Hood. 
-Alex. Milliken, H. Reed, H. Rice. 
-Alex. Milliken, Joseph Pratt, H. Rice. 
-J. L. Cook, D. Negus, H. Rice. 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 



259 



1834— J. M. Hollister, C. Hallock, H. A. Hess. 
1835— J. Pratt, B. G. Pettengill, H. Kice. 
1836— J. Pratt, B. G. Pettengill, H. Rice 
1837— J. Millard, C. Hallock, H. Rice. 
1838— J. Millard, J. Pratt, C. Robinson. 
1839— C. Hallock, G. M. Salsbury, H. Rice. 
1840— L. Cook, Jr., O. Tousley, Alex. Milliken. 
1841— J. M. Hollister, G. R. Bennett, Alex. Milliken. 
1842— J. M. Hollister, G. R. Bennett, Alex. Milliken. 
1843— Stephen Howard, G. R. Bennett, Alex. Milliken. 
1844— T. Templeton, Daniel S. Ross, B. Pettengill. 
1845— M. Packard, S. B. Bushnell, D. S. Ross. 
1846— Alex. Milliken, F. Speer, M. Stevens. 
1847— S. B. Bushnell, M. Packard. 
1848— Horace Peck, George W. Farwell. 
1849 — Manning Packard, George W Farwell. 



1850 — Amasa Patterson 
1851— Thomas Glidden. 
1852— Thomas Turner. 
1853— Hubbard Rice. 
1854— Thomas Glidden. 
1855— Levi D. Mills. 
1856— Stephen Wyman. 
1857— Henry Kirby. 
1858— Martin Evarts. 
1859 — Stephen Wyman. 
I860— Thomas Glidden. 
1861— Martin Evarts. 
1862— Loren Hill. 
1863— Dan Martin. 
1864 — Manning Packard. 
1865 — James M. Templeton. 
1866— Josiah M. Clark. 
1867 — Myron D. Snyder. 
1868— John J. Stevens. 
1869— Horace B. Pierce. 



1872— M. Evarts, Ebenezer Culver. 
1873— M. D. Milliken, James Gib- 
son. 
1874— N. O. Brackett, M. Packard. 
1875— Edgar H. Glidden. 
1876 — Daniel Griggs. 
1877— W. H. H. GofE, James Lusk. 
1878 — James Lusk. 
1879— Eli Evarts 
1880— Harley D. Munger. 
1881— Charles Lusk. 
1882— John S. Boots. 
1883 — Henry Vandenberg. 
1884— George E. Cowles. 

1885 — John S. Boots, Gilbert 
Huyck. 

1886 — John S. Boots, Gilbert 
Huyck. 

1887— Gilbert Huyck, Alexander 



Andrus. 

1870— Simeon D.Coleman. J.Pratt. 1888— Gilbert Huyck, A. Andrus, 
1871— John G. Carpenter. M. Murphy. 

Commissioners of Highways. 

1821— David Church, J. A. Smith. Cyrus Hood. 
1822— Stephen Martin, A. Annis, J. A. Smith. 
1823 — D. Church, Nathaniel Warren, A. Hopkins. 
1824 — D. Church, Nathaniel Warren, A. Hopkins. 
1825 — D. Church, Nathaniel W^arren, A. Hopkins. 
1826 — A. Annis, Nathaniel Warren, B. Holmes. 
1827 — Noah Sweet, Levi Preston, S. L. Stevens. 
1828 — Chauncey Gould, Levi Preston, S. L. Stevens. 
1829 — Chauncey Gould, Levi Preston, S. L. Stevens. 
1830 — J. H. Davis, Levi Preston, L. Cook. 
1831 — J. H. Davis, James Preston, S. L. Stevens. 



260 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

1832 — L. Cook. James Preston, Samuel Wetherbee. 

1883— A. Howard, D. Reed, L. Cook. 

1834— J. A. Sheldon, H. Hood, William Alexander. 

1835 — L. Cook, J. L. Cook, James Preston. 

1836— D. Reed, J. L. Cook, S. L. Stevens. 

1837— D. Reed, J. L. Cook, H. A. Hess. 

1838— G. M. Salsbury, L. Cook, J. L. Cook. 

1839— H. A. Hess, S. Lewis, J. L. Cook. 

1840 — H. B. Richardson, Joseph L. Cook. 

1841 — George Forbush, Caleb Hallock. 

1842— C. H. T. Cowles, H. A. Hess. B McCrillis. 

1843— H. A. Hess, J. C. Hallock, C. H. T. Cowles. 

1844— S. L. Stevens, G. W. Farwell, T. Glidden. 

1845— M. D. Milliken, H. Crannell, T. Turner. 

1846— J. H. Peabody, William Glidden, A. Clum. 

1847 — Ebenezer Reed, Helon Babcock. 

1848— Leonard Gillett. 

1849— Norton L. Webster. 

1850— Curtis Cook. 

1851— Nathan 0. Warren. 

1852 — Joseph A. Bryan. 

1853 — Philip Inman, Stephen Wyman. 

1854— G. W. Farwell. C. B. Packard. 

1855— Leonard S. Foster. 1872— John R. Bartlett. 

1856— Alexander Miller. 1873— Marvin R. Mills. 

1857— Ferrin Speer. 1874— George Thomas. 

1858— William E. Willey. 1875— Webster E. Howard. 

1859— A. Miller, C. H. Crannell. 1876— John S. Boots. 

1860— Remember C. Dibble. 1877— George Thomas. 

1861— George H. Turner. 1878— N. E. Warren. 

1862— David P. Wilcox. 1879— Henry Crannell. 

1863— James Gibson. 1880— Royal Taylor. 

1864— Ely H. Cook. 1881— Not given. 

1865— David P. Wilcox. 1882— Not given. 

1866— Loren Hill. 1883— John Crossett. 

1867 — Austin J. HoUister. 1884— Lewis Lambert. 

1868— Daniel P. Albert. 1885— Benjamin Boots. 

1869— Edgar Gillis. 1886— Lewis A. Lambert. 

1870— William H. Inman. 1887— Frank Clow. 

1871— Daniel P. Albert. 1888— Eugene Crossett. 

Overseers of Poor. 

1821 — Alex. Annis, Shubael Lewis. 
1822 — Alex. Annis, Shubael Lewis. 
1823 — Zebulon Packard, Shubael Lewis. 
1824 — Zebulon Packard, Stephen Martin. 
1825 — Abner Hopkins, Stephen Martin. 
1826 — Chauncey Robinson, Dan Polly. 
1827 — Chauncey Robinson, Dan Polly. 
1828 — Stephen Martin, Benjamin Thomas. 
1829 — Lyman Hammond, Benjamin Thomas. 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 261 

1830 — Lyman Hammond, Joseph Hopkins. 

1831 — Lyman Hammond, Joseph Hopkins. 

1832 — Levi Preston, Amos Koss. 

1833 — Levi Preston, Amos Ross. 

1834— Daniel Brackett, J. L. Cook. 

1835 — Joseph Hopkins, Amos Ross. 

1836 — Joseph Hopkins, Chauncey Robinson. 

1837 — Joseph Hopkins, Chauncey Robinson. 

1838 — Joseph Hopkins, Stephen Martin. 

1839 — Joseph Hopkins, Helon Babcock. 

1840 — Joseph Hopkins, John Locke. 

1841— H. A. Hess, John Locke. 

1842 — Ezekiel Hoag, Helon Babcock. 

1843— Ezekiel Hoag, Helon Babcock 

1844 — Stephen Wyman, Homer Cornwell. 

1845 — Stephen Wyman, David Matson. 

1846— Ira Phillips. 1868— Justin H. Dutton. 

1847— Philip Preston. 1869— Justin H. Dutton. 

1848— Ira Philips. 1870— Martin E. Brackett. 

1 849— Lemuel Cook, Jr. 1 87 1— David Wetherbee. 

1850— Lemuel Cook, Jr. 1872— David Wetherbee. 

1851 — James Winn. 1873 — Martin E. Brackett. 

1852— Lemuel Cook, Jr. 1874— John S. Nelson. 

1853 — Lemuel Cook, Jr. 1875 — None given. 

1854— Levi Clark. 1876— C. H. Pugsley. 

1855— Asahel Merriman. 1877— C. H. Pugsley. 

1856— James Winn. 1878— Simeon D. Coleman. 

1857— A. E. French. 1879— Jonas Shaw. 

1858— Edmund Wilcox. 1880— Isaac Kelley. 

1859 — James Lusk. 1881 — Isaac Kelley. 

1860— Ira T. Merrill. 1882— John W. Mansfield. 

1861— Leander T. Gillespie. 1883— John W. Mansfield. 

1862— T. G. McAllister. 1884— John W. Mansfield. 

1863— Justin H. Dutton. 1885— John Wright. 

1864— Justin H. Dutton. 1886— John W. Mansfield. 

1865— Justin H. Dutton. 1887— John Wright. 

1866— Justin H. Dutton. 1888— John Wright. 

1867— Alexander Miller. 

School Commissioners. 

1821 — R. Owen, J. Glidden, Anson Bunnel. 

1822— A. O. Rose, J. A. Smith, J. Glidden. 

1823— Ezekiel Lee, H. Hood, S. Hodges. 

1824 — Joshua Vincent, E. Lee, A. Bunnel. 

1825— W. D. Dudley, E. Lee, B. G. Pettengill. 

1826— W. D. Dudley, E. Lee, G. M. Salsbury. 

1827- Robert Owen, E. P. Sanford, P. Preston. 

1828— Robert Owen, H. Rice, P. Preston. 

1829— H. Reed, Cyrus Hood, John Wetherbee. 

1830— H. Reed, G. M. Salsbury, John Wetherbee. 

1831— Joseph L. Cook, B. G. Pettengill, John Wetherbee. 



262 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

1882— Joseph L. Cook, Cyrus Hood, M. Packard. 
1833— J. Wetberbee, B. G. Pettengill, H. Reed. 
1834— Horace Peck, E. S. Reed A. Joslyn. 
1835— J. Wetberbee, J. Cburcb, G. M. Salsbury. 
1836— J. Wetberbee, J. Cburcb, G. M. Salsbury. 
1837— H. Rice, B. Pettengill, Jonathan Howard. 
1888— G. S. Salsbury, C. Robinson, T. Templeton. 
1889— M. Packard, J. W. Hollister, A. Joslyn. 
1840— L. J. Woodruff, J. W. Hollister, A. Joslyn. 
1841— George M. Copeland, S. Howard, J. H. Peabody. 
1842— George M. Copeland, N. E. Darrow, H. Hood. 
1848— J. A. Hess, J. Coleman, James Young. 



School Superintendents. 

1844— John G. Smith. 1852— Almon Snyder. 

1845— John G. Smith. 1853— Not given. 

1846— Clark Glidden. 1854— N. O. Warren. 

1847— John B. King. 1855 -Not given. 

1848— N. O. Warren. 1856— Not given. 

1849— Not given. 1857— Not given. 
1850— David N. Pettengill. (Expired 1857.) 

1851 — Not given. 

School Inspectors, 

1821— Asdel Nay, Luther Peck, S. Hedges. 

1822— R. Owen, L Humphrey, S. Hedges. 

1828— R. Owen, L. Humphrey, Alvin Hood. 

1824— H. Carter, A. Nay, Alvin Hood. 

1825— H. Carter, Hiram Frisbie, G. M. Salsbury. 

1826— H. Carter, Hiram Frisbie, A. Hood. 

1827— G. M. Salsbury, G. S. Salsbury, A. Hood. 

1828— Robert Owen, I. B. Keeler, A. Hood. 

1829— B. G. Pettengill, G. M. Salsbury, Asa Bunnel. 

1830— B. G. Pettengill, Jonathan Church, A. Milliken. 

1831— Asa Bunnel, N. E. Darrow, G. S. Salsbury. 

1832— Asa Bunnel, N. E. Darrow, G. S. Salsbury. 

1838— Z. H. Hallock, Asa Bunnel, G. S. Salsbury. 

1884— T. I. Noyes, M. Packard, S. Howard. 

1885— Jonathan Howard, M. Packard, B. G. Pettengill. 

1886— Jonathan Howard, M. Packard, B. G. Pettengill. 

1837— H. Reed, M. Packard, S. Howard. 

1888— B. G. Pettengill, M. Packard, John Church. 

1889— L. Sawyer, A. C. Keith, H. Reed. 

1840 — S. Church, Lyman Matson. 

1841 — Loyal Palmer, Lyman Matson, A. Patterson. 

1842 — Amasa Patterson, Samuel Salsbury. 

1848— Lyman Matson, Enos Holmes. (Expired.) 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 



263 



1821— Truman Smith. 
1822— William Lewis. 
1823— Shubael Lewis. 
1824— Z. Tousley. 
1825— Z. Tousley. 
1826— D. Glidden. 
1827— T. Smith. 
1828— W. Dodge. 
1829— H. Phelps. 
1830 — None given. 
1831— W. Dodge. 
1832— W. P. Hinman. 
1833— A. W. Salsbury. 
1884 — Hiram Joslyn. 
1835 — Hiram Joslyn. 
1836— Hiram Joslyn. 
1837— Hiram Joslyn. 
1838— D. Crossett. 
1839— D. Crossett. 
1840 — Hiram Joslyn. 
1841 — Hiram Joslyn. 
1842— George W. Peck. 
1843— George W. Peck. 
1844— M. Packard. 
1845— H. Joslyn. 
1846— H. Kirby. 
1847— Stephen Church. 
1848— Stephen Church. 
1849— Stephen Church. 
1850— Cyrus Lusk. 
1851 — Morris Dewey. 
1852— S. Church. 
1853— J. B. French. 
1854— J. W. Hopkins. 



Collectors. 

1855- 
1856- 
1857- 
1858- 
1859- 
1860- 
1861- 
1862- 
1863- 
1864- 
1865- 
1866- 
1867- 
1868- 
1869- 
1870- 
1871- 
1872- 
1873- 
1874- 
1875- 
1876- 
1877- 
1878- 
1879- 
1880- 
1!<81- 
1882- 
1883- 
1884- 
1885- 
1886- 
1887- 
•1888- 



-S. Church. 
-J. W. Hopkins. 
-J. J. Stevens. 
-L S. Bennett. 
-J. J. Stevens. 
-J. J. Stevens. 
-L. H. Merrill. 
-I. S. Bennett. 
-L. B. Coy. 
-L. B. Coy. 
-A. M. Church. 
-A. M. Church. 
-H. B. Joslyn. 
-None given. 
-Alva Blanchard. 
-A. D. Turner. 
-George Mathes. 
-A. D. Turner. 
-Edward L. Church. 
J. M. L. McCrillis. 
-J. L. McCrillis. 
-George Taylor. 
-Simeon Glidden. 
-L. A. Lambert. 
-Kiik Blanchard. 
-Ira Dexter. 
-L. F. Nelson. 
-L. Preston. 
-C. H. Stevens. 
-F. Bates. 
-D. C. St. John. 
-G. N. Orcutt. 
-E. R. Warren. 
-E. R. Warren. 



Constables. 

1821— J. C. Remington, Willard Dodge. 

1822— William Lewis. 

1823— S. Lewis, William Dodge. 

1824— Charles Savin. 

1825 — B. Thomas, Joseph Lee. 

1826— J. W. Lee, V. Tousley, S Warren. 

1827— S. Warren, J. Church, J. Wetherbee. 

1828— H. Phelps, T. Smith. 

1829— H. Phelps, B. Pettengill, W. Dodge, H. Failing. 

1830 — S. L. Stevens, Asa Mead, Jared Bigelow. 

1831— W. Dodge, H. P. Hinman, B. Pettengill, A. Mead. 

1832— Ed. Pettengill, D. Crossett, W. P. Hindman, W. Dodge. 



264 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

1838 — Hindman, Crossett, A. W. Salsbury, E. W. Ainswortli. 

1834_H. Peck, J. W. Palmer, J. Wickwear, H. Joslyn. 

1835— Joslyn, Crossett, Salsbury, Orrin Buttertield. 

1836 — Salsbury, Butterfield, Joslyn, Crossett. 

1837— Joslyn, Croi^sett, Salsbury, E. Pettengill. 

1838 — Crossett, J. J Harper, Salsbury, Butterfield. 

1839— Joslyn, Salsbury, W. G. Ainbwortli. 

1840— Harper, B. P. Wadsworth, J. F. Glidden, W. Cox. 

1841— Wadsworth, Glidden, Joslyn, G. W. Peck. 

1842_Peck, Glidden, S. Yates, J. Lusk. 

1843 — Peck, Lusk, S. Cox, Jonathan Reed, 

1844— T. Maine, H. Farvvell, J. B. French, M. Packard. 

1845 — S. Church, Wadsworth, Farwell, W. Olmsted. 

1846— H. Kirby, W. Cox, A. Smith, Wadsworth. 

1847— Church, Smith, N. U. Warren. 

1848— Church, O. Bennett, N. R. Merrill, Cox. 

1849— Church, C. Lusk, L. Dean, M. E. Winchell. 

1850— Church, Lusk, Bennett, H. M Cook. 

1851 — Church, M. Dewey, Bennett, Lawton. 

1852— Church, J. B. French, Winchell. M. Lewis. 

1853— French, Church, Winchell, L. D. Jenkins. 

1854 — J. W. Hopkins, French, J. Crossett, Lawton. 

1855 — Church, French, L. S. Wilcox, Lawton. 

1856 — Z. Smith, Hopkins, Lewis, French. 

1857 — J. J. Stevens, Wilcox, French, Lewis. 

1858— G. Clapp, P. True, I. Bennett, W. Glidden. 

1859— Stevens, French, T. Stone, D. Inman. 

1860 — J. Kane, J. W. Lawton, Stevens, Clapp. 

1881 — A. P. Wetherbee, L. Preston, Kane, Clapp, 

1862— A. H. Elliott, W. H. Westcott, Bennett, Clapp. 

1863— A. Harmon, J. M, Clark, H, Ward, E, Foster, 

1864 — L. B. Coy, Harmon, Merrill, Clark. 

1865— A. M. Church, W. Storms, A. S. Frederick, Clark. 

1866— Church, S. Williams, W. Armour, W. Storms, 

1867— L. Mower, H. Sawyer, J. Kirby, A. D. Cook, G. B. Hood. 

1869— J. A. Downs, A. D. Turner, T.*H. Glidden, Soles. 

1870— Glidden, Turner, G. Milliken, (J. Minick. 

1871 — Turner, G. Baldwin, Mathes, Storms. 

1872— J. Roberts, W. Cruttenden, Turner, Storms. 

1873— R. Lee, Cruttenden, W. M. Pratt, G, Sturges. 

1874— Sturges, Storms, Pratt, 

1875— J. McCrillis, E. Warren, Huyck, Emery. 

1876— Sturges, Pratt, T. McGowan, Emery. 

1877— Emery, Sturges, W. C. Dibble, R. E. Lawton. 

1878 — Church, McGowan, Hollister, William Lyman, 

1879 — Fred Mowers, K. Blanchard, D, Smedes, Preston. 

1880— Emery, Church, Preston, McGowan, 

1881— Emery, F. West, L. F. Nelson, Church. 

1882 — Preston, Vanderburg, Church, H. Putnam. 

1883 — Lawton, Stevens, Church, Preston. 

1884— Preston, Turner, Church, Budd. 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 



265 



1885_Cliurch, St. John, Preston, Emery. 

1886— Preston, Cliurch, Emery, Butterfield, Stuckey. 

1887— Whipple, Warren, Lyman Emery. 

1888— Wilson, Emery, Warren, Murphy. 



Game Constables. 



1872— D. H. Mower. 

1873— Henry Foster. 
1876 — Rugene Lawton. 
1877— E Butler. 
1878— James Burns. 
1879— E. Butler. 
1880 — James Burns. 
1881— J. Mepsted. 

1821— Eldredge Farwell. 
1822— Enos Dodge. 
1823— Enos Dodge. 



1822— David Sturges. 
1825— Hiram Frisbie. 
1826— Hiram Frisbie. 
1827— Stephen Martin. 
1828— Stephen Martin. 
1838— Stephen Martin. 
1839— George M. Copeland. 
1840— Eldrege Farwell. 
1847 — Asahel Merriman. 
1848 — Marvin Powers. 
1849— Marvin Powers. 



1882— George Gaylord. 
1883— T. Gormly. 
1884— Ogden S. Miller. 
1885— M S. Kimball. 
1886— John Crossett. 
1887— Fred Hedges. 
1888— P. J. Murphy. 



Pound Masters. 



1824— Enos Dodge. 
1825— Enos Dodge. 
1826— Enos Dodge. 



Sealers. 

1850- 
1851- 
1852- 
1853- 
1854- 
1855- 
1856- 
1858- 
1859- 
1860- 
1866- 

JUSTICES. 



-Philip Preston. 
-Marvin Powers. 
-Philip Preston. 
-Philip Preston. 
-Philip Preston. 
-Philip Preston. 
-Morris Dewey. 
-Philip Preston. 
-Marvin Powers. 
-James M. Hollister. 
-Merritt Blighton. 



1821- 
1822- 
1823- 
1824- 
1825- 
1826- 
1827- 
1828- 
1829- 
1830- 
1831- 
1832- 
1833- 
1834 
1835 
1836 



-Eldredge Farwell. 
-Eldredge Farwell. 
-William Lewis, Henry Hill. 
-William Lewis, Asdel Nay, Henry Hill. 
-William Lewis, Asdel Nay, Henry Hill. 
-William Lewis, Asdel Nay, Henry Hill. 
-Asdel Nay, N. W. Perry, E. Warren. 
-Ezra Sanford, B. G. Petteogill, E. Warren. 
-W D Dudley, Ezra Sanford, B. G. Pettengill, E. Warren. 
-Clark Hayes, Dudley, Sanford, Pettengill, Warren. 
-Eleazur Warren, B. G. Pettengill. 
-Warren, Pettengill, John Church. 
-Warren, Pettengill, Horatio Reed. 
-Warren, Pettengill. 
-Warren, Pettengill, Z. Tousley, J. 



M. Hollister. 



— H. Reed, J. S. Grennell, Tousley, Hollister. 



]• 



266 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

1837_Pettengill, Tousley, Grennell, Hollister. 

1838 — Pettengill, Tousley, Grennell, Hollister. 

1839— J. A. Sheldon, Pettengill, Grennell. Hollister. 

1840— H. Rice, Warren, Pettengill, Sheldon. 

1841— S. Lewis, Tousley, Pettengill, Sheldon. 

1842 — Jonathan Howard, Sheldon, Tousley, Lewis. 

1843 — Jason A. Sheldon, Tousley, Lewis, Howard. 

1844 — E. Hoag, Sheldon, Lewis, Tousley. 

1845 — Hoag, Sheldon, Lewis, Tousley. 

1846 — H. B. Richardson, Hoag. Lewis, Sheldon. 

1847 — T. B. Sheppard, J. Pratt, Hoag, Richardson. 

1848— G. W. Peck, H. Kirby, Pratr, Hoag, Richardson. 

1849— T. S. Phelps, Job Potter, Pratt, Richardson. 

1850— Pratt, Potter. 

1851 — Hoag, Richardson, Pettengill, Pratt, Potter. 

1852— J. Millard, Pratt, Richardson, Hoag, Pettengill. 

1853 — Richardson, Pratt, Millard, Hoag. 

1854— Pratt, Millard, Richardson, Hoag. 

1855— Hoag, Pratt, Millard. 

1856 — Jared Thompson, Pratt, Millard, Hoag. 

1857 — Edmund Wilcox, Hoag. 

1858— D. N. Pettengill, Hollister, J. C. Hallock, Pratt, Hoag. 

1859— A. E. French, Hoag. Hallock, Hollister, Pettengill. 

1860— Hollister, J. A. Bryan, Pettengill, French. 

1861— L. D. Mills, Pettengill, Hollister, French, Bryan. 

1862— Pettengill, Hollister, French, Mills. 

1863— N. E. Darrow, Pettengill, Hollister, French, Mills. 

1864— W. Glidden, Pettengill, Mills, Hollister, Darrow. 

1865 — J. Lawton, Pratt, Pettengill, Warren. 

1866— Pettengill, Pratt, Glidden, Lawton. 

1867— N. O. Warren, Glidden, Lawton. 

1868 — Amasa Patterson, T. B. Stone, Glidden, Warren, Lawton. 

1869 — Lawton, Patterson, W^arren, Stone. 

1870 — Patterson, Warren, Glidden, Lawton. 

1871 — Pratt, Warren, Patterson, Lawton, Glidden. 

1872 — Warren, Glidden, Pratt, Patterson, Lawton. 

1873 — Lawton, Pratt, Glidden, Warren, Patterson, J. W. Lawton. 

1874 — Pettengill, Pratt, Glidden, Patterson, Lawton. 

1875 — Warren, Pratt, Glidden, Pettengill, Lawton. 

1876— Warren, Glidden, Pettengill, Lawton. 

1877 — J. W. Lawton, Pettengill, Glidden, Lawton, Warren. 

1878— Pettengill, Hill. Glidden. Warren, Lawton. 

1879— D. F. St. John, Lawton, Warren, Hill, Pettengill. 

1880— Hill, Pettengill, St. John. 

1881— J. W. Lawton, Pettengill, St. John, Hill. 

1882— Pettengill, St. John, Hill. 

1883— St. John, Lawton, Pettengill, Hill. 

1884— H. Butcher, Lawton, Hill, St. John, Pettengill. 

1885— F. A. Salsbury, Perry, Lawton, Pettengill, St. John. 

1886— Pettengill, Salsbury, St. John, Perry. 

1887— N. O. Warren, D. C. St. John. 

1888 — A. J. Potter, N. H. Darrow, Eugene Warren. 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 267 



Inspectors of Election. 

1843_J. M. Hollister, Alburn Joslyn. 

1844 — John Millard, Eleazur Warren, 

1845 — John Millard, Chauncey Robiuson. 

1846 — D. S. Ross, Chauncey Robinson. 

1847— D. S. Ross, Philip Inman, J. M. Hollister. 

1848— B. G. Pettengill, L. B. Coy, E. S. Reed. 

1849 — 'i'homas Turner, L. B Coy, James Winn. 

1850— Thomas Turner, A. E. French, I. B. Keeler. 

1851— B. Pettengill, Thomas Turner, A. C. Keith. 

1852— William Glidden, E. W. Hill, Hiram Joslyn. 

1853— William Gibson, W. S. Watson. 

1854— L. B. Coy, B. Pettengill, A. Merriman. 

1855— L. B. Coy, Smith Glidden, M. D. Milliken. 

1856 — A. Merriman, A. E. French, D. E. Barker. 

1857 — Henry Crannel, H. Hood, B. Petteogill. 

1858— M. D. Milliken, I. T. Merrill, H. C. Martin. 

1859— L. B. Coy, H. Hood, B. Pettengill. 

1860— Curtis Cook, A. P. Wetherbee, H. Joslyn. 

1861— W. J. Edmonds, A. Mather, G. Cook. 

1862— A. P. Wetherbee, A. Mather, G. Cook. 

1863 — R. E. Howard, A. Mather, John Crossett. 

1864— Hiram Ward, J. R. Warren, G. E. Cowles. 

1865— R. C. Dibble, E. Culver, G. E. Cowles. 

1866— H. L. Salsbury, A. L. Salsbury, G. E. Cowles. 

1867— E. H. Glidden, James Gibson, G. E. Cowles. 

1868— E. H. Glidden, Ely H. Cook, G. E. Cowles. 

1869— George Mathes, S. D. Coleman, G. B. Hood. 

1870 — George C. Taylor, J. G. Carpenter, H. Cowles. 

1871 — James Gibson, Fred Glidden, A. D. Cook. 

1872 — George Mathes, A. L. Salsbury, J. J. Stevens. 

1873— Irving W. Hollister, A. L. Salsbury, T. Carr. 

1874— George Mathes, J. C. Tupper, C. S. Pugsley. 

1875— D. N. Salsbury, T. Carr, L. J. Hill. 

1876— William Stuckey, J. B. King, H. Webster. 

1877— James Andrus, F. H. Wait, G. D. Cramer. 

1878— H. Vanderberg. T. W. Allis, G. D. Cramer. 

1879— Levi Mower, W. H. Hollister, Day Wilcox. 

1880 — C. H. Cramer, Menzo Lawton, R. S. Morton. 

1881 — J. J. Stevens, H. Vanderberg, T. McGowan. 

1882— Will F. Glidden, A. Budd, C. H. Cramer. 

1883— G. Huyck, C. B. Tasker, H. L. Perry. 

1884— Alva Sturges, C. B. Tasker, Chas. Glidden. 

1885 — Charles Stevens, Eugene Crossett, William Mathes. 

1886— A. C. Mathes, J. B. Merrill, H. Butcher. 

1887— Charles Stevens, Eugene Crossett, W. T. Pettengill. 

1888 — Alonzo Whipple, Adelbert Carr. 



268 HISTOEY OF CLARENDON. 

Excise Commissioners. 

1875 — John G. Carpenter, G. Cook, J. Turner. 

1876— J. Turner. 

1877— Gilbert Cook, J. J. Stevens. 

1878— David Cruttenden. 

1879— Ebenezer Culver. 

1880— Joseph Turner, N. R. Merrill. 

1881— Isaac Hall, Cyrus Foster. 

1882— Kirk S. Blanchard. 

1883— John Nelson. 

1884— A. D. Cook. 

1885— Edward Nay. 

1886— Hiram Butcher. 

1887— John S. Nelson. 

1888— Guy S. Bo wen. 

The breaking up of the Whig party after the defeat of 
Winfield Scott by Franklin Pierce, in 1852, drove the Silver 
Grays, as they were called, either into the new American or 
Know-nothing party, or latterly into the ranks of the 
Democrats. The " Wooleys," along with the " Free Soil- 
ers," composed the new Republican party, which very 
naturally absorbed the Abolitionists. In 1840, during the 
election of Harrison and Tyler, or, as the old song went, 
" Tippecanoe and Tyler too," the Whigs of Clarendon, 
from all portions of the town, drew logs of elm, ash, maple 
and other timber to Albion, under the marshalship of 
Colonel Orson Butterfield, of the Butterfield road. David 
Pettengill, Guy M. Salsbury, Chauncey Robinson, Levi 
Preston, Orson Butterfield and F. A. Salsbury each had 
their teams to haul logs for this cabin. 

When the Clarendon delegation reached the Telegraph 
road they were met by the Holley Whigs, and at the 
Transit by others from the north, all well loaded with cider 
barrels and jugs to remember Harrison. The log-cabin was 
erected on the ground now occupied by the Presbyterian 
Church of Albion, and F. A. Salsbury says that he notched 
the north-east corner of this structure. The crowd then 
adjourned to the Court-house square, where speeches were 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 269 

made, cider barrels tapped, jugs sucked dry, until about 
fifty or more lay as stupid as hogs in a distillery-yard. 
Those that were able to eat had beans on hemlock bark, to 
imitate the glorious days when first '* Tippecanoe " breathed 
the air of Yankeedom. On their homeward-bound journey, 
the cider and whisky aboard put the drunken spirits in 
charge of the lines, and races were run as far as the guide- 
post on the Barre road, where one John Taggart, who pro- 
posed to "play h — 11 with the Whigs," ran into Lyman 
Beebe's wagon, and he and George Swan went into the air 
flying, Taggart striking his head, which found the ground 
still harder, and he rose no more. George Swan, as he 
came down, shouted, " Get up, Taggart ; I've got the jug 
all right!" but, looking around and seeing that Taggart 
was unable to drink, he at once became very sober. After 
this drunken death the Clarendon delegation concluded to 
drive slow, and entered town quite respectably. 

When 1844 came ringing in, with Democratic girls all 
dressed in white, to imitate the Whigs of 1840, Orson Tous- 
ley had a great gathering from different portions of the 
county to shout the wonderful merits of Polk and Dallas. 
Clarendon damsels waved flags, and wanted all the boys to 
hurrah for their favorites, and it was said that one of the 
girls after bringing her flag around a Whig boy's head 
three times concluded to cease her wild demonstration. 

When Harry Clay was defeated by the Birney wedge, 
Clarendon women, who loved the gallant Kentuckian, shed 
tears, and never since that day have the fair sex taken a 
public hand in the frothy bubblings of the political tub, 
which shows their good common sense. A very fine pole 
was raised by the American party in 1856, James Winn 
having charge, when a Fillmore and Donelson flag waved 
in the breeze by the hay scales, just in front of George M. 
Copeland's store. 

Lodges were established by this party where none but 



270 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Americans were put on guard, and some of the best citi- 
zens of the town belonged and did service at these secret 
sessions. In the same year the Republicans became very 
strong in town, and Horace Greeley's Tribune had about 
one hundred weekly circulation. Tlie air was hot upon the 
extension of slavery question, and the good people at the 
hotel and stores became terribly excited, and more hard 
words were used than had before been known. Democrats 
were called "slave-drivers," and Republicans '^ black," for 
their love of the negro, while meetings were held in differ- 
ent portions of the town, and "the pot was kept boiling witli 
no opportunity to cool. 

When 1860 dawned, the Republicans had a strong band 
of uniformed '• Wide-awakes," and T. E. Gr. Pettengill 
could be heard ^\\owt\\\g^^ Attention, Wide-aiuakes ! ^^ ^^hWQ 
St. John strutted before the Douglas Guards, lifting high 
his bloodless sword, and saying, ^'Forward! marcli!^^ 
When some foreign orator was in Albion or Brockport, 
wagons would be loaded down with Douglas Guards or 
Lincoln Wide-awakes, all shouting themselves hoarse over 
their several candidates, and acting more like lunatics than 
sane men. On one of these noisy occasions, the author, 
standing side by side with a son of Erin, soon found him- 
self pitched out the rear end of a lumber-wagon just in 
front of Cash Weller's blacksmith-shop, in Holley, with a 
million, more or less, of stars in his eyes, and the clatter 
of a Douglas tin-lamp in his ears. A collar-bone out of 
joint caused him to remember very distinctly the campaign 
of 1860. 

Clarendon sent a very large delegation to Rochester to 
hear the " Little Giant," and in Franklin square, on that 
day, her good people had all the hugging, pushing, jam- 
ming and crowding that they could ever wish to expe- 
rience. The Bell and Everett boys, belonging to the 
American party, secured a fine tamarack pole in Tona- 



CLARENDON IN POLITICS. 271 

wan da, and raised it with great shouting in 1860 on the 
grass plat which once looked fresh and green, where the 
Albion and Hulberton streets join in front of S. H. Cope- 
land's home. Philip Preston turned out a fine wooden bell, 
which stood handle up at the peak, and a beautiful flag 
floated out the names of these noble men to the breezes of 
Clarendon. But the wave of secession took away all that 
was left of the proud American vessel, and it went down, 
mourned by many who had hailed its launching with joy 
in their hearts and fond hopes of the future. 

Clarendon has been famous in the past for sending out 
large delegations to attend political gatherings, coming 
from all parts of the town wagon after wagon, bannei's 
flying and making a procession for long distances. Horace 
Peck relates that at one time Honest Hill sent to Batavia 
eighteen teams, all joined to one wagon, loaded down, to 
hear Doolittle, who afterward became senator from Wis- 
consin. During the campaign of 1860, Dr. Shubael H. 
Dutton composed his song-book, with all the tunes set to 
music by John Mills. 

The dark and gloomy days of the war found Clarendon 
wholly absorbed in the enlistment and drafting of her sons 
to give much attention to politics outside of the Rebellion. 
From that day until the pi esent the only change in the two 
great parties worthy of notice has been a ripple of Green- 
backism, which rolled away as it came quietly bearing only 
a few followers; and in 1878 the Prohibition party had tioo 
votes, the beginning of an organization which is now recog- 
nized in the political machinery of the present day. Our 
chapter on temperance, and also on war, will show the 
growth, progress and position of these changes as they have 
arisen upon the sky of Clarendon j^olitics. As we write 
the tariff is the only great issue between the Democratic and 
Republican electors of Clarendon, of which they will prob- 
ably receive their just supply before the canvass is over. 



272 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEK XY. 

CLARENDON IN TEMPERANCE. 

THE liquor question, in the early days of Clarendon, had 
but little bearing upon the minds of the people. The 
Sturges distillery, with one at Holley, and some seven others 
in adjoining towns, gave the people whisky as common as 
cider at the present day. Stores not only kept the product 
on hand, but each customer who was in any wise thirsty 
was cordially invited to walk up and take a drink, to en- 
courage trade, and keep not only the spirits in the barrel 
flowing, but also the spirits in the individual at a proper 
heat. It is related that one person having brought a 
double-yolked egg, insisted upon having two drinks instead 
of one, when the shell was broken and found to contain 
the extra deposit. Jugs and wooden bottles were taken to 
the distillery, and girls and boys on horseback might be 
seen, like John Gilpin before he broke his, homeward bound 
with the precious fluid to supply the wants of the family. 
If there was a logging-bee, raising, husking, or harvesting, 
whisky must be purchased at the cheap rate of two shillings 
per gallon, to keep all hands from becoming dry. In the 
house, tansy bitters, with a little tansy and very much 
whisky, was ready in the pantry, or over the fire-place, or 
in some corner, to drive away the "chills and ague," and 
in that day liquor seldom gave the shakes, which are so 
common over the poison of the present. If a dance took 
place, the boys had sling, and the girls sweet cordials, to 
keep their spirits in excellent trim for the fiddlers, and the 
instances were few in which the minister did notexj^ect his 



CLARENDON IN TEMPERANCE. 273 

sling, hot punch, or toddy, and took it with the same reHsh 
and ease as the poor sinners. And all this occurred be- 
cause society said *' Yes," and the trip-hammer of denun- 
ciation had not yet fallen upon the head of this custom. 
There is no doubt in the minds of all thinking men, that 
this practice had very much to do with creating in the 
sight of the children a familiarity with liquor, and as they 
grew up they, too, began to sip and taste, as their parents 
had before them, and the result has been known to all who 
have opened their eyes. One by one certain persons began 
to see the effects produced by this common drinking, this 
loafing around taverns, this watching at the grocery for a 
'*' nip," in the bloated faces, the half-awake looks of the 
drinker, his disregard of personal appearance, and very 
often his unfitness for labor, and lack of confidence in his 
ability to do the work of life. The health of individuals 
who did not drink was also contrasted with those who did, 
the power to labor in the field, and the general condition of 
the abstainer and drinker. Three cents a glass at the 
taverns caused certain men to spend their pennies, which 
they earned by hard labor, and before long their red noses 
gave them the name of topers and sots. These could be 
seen hanging around the village or country bar-room, ever 
ready to take a drink when called, and very often when not 
asked, with breaths that would have strangled an infant in 
the cradle if a breeze from their mouths had blown over 
the darlings. 

Deacon Lemuel Pratt was in the habit of coming over to 
George S. Salsbury's, on the Barre road, where Budd Emery 
passed away, about 1836, and near the fire-place they would 
talk over the effects of intemperance. Mrs. James Annis 
had years before, in a drunken sleep, fallen into the fire in 
the old fire-place, where she and her husband lived, and the 
husband also, loaded with this fluid, nearly lost his life in 
pulling his wife out of the flames. This fact had not been 



274 HISTORY OF CLAKENDON. 

forgotten, and even the expression she made just before she 
expired, that she wished she was under a whisky-barrel at 
the spout, was enough to make these men think that some- 
thing ought to be done to head off the effects of drinking. 
One night in the village of Clarendon, about 1847, the 
question was deeply agitated, and about a dozen formed 
themselves into a band called " The Sons of Temperance/' 
T. G. McAllister had hauled down the old shed of the Cot- 
tage Inn, and a hall was at once made for the accommoda- 
tion of this first temperance society of Clarendon, which 
was prohibition in its character, and initiated members from 
eighteen years upward. The fee was about one dollar for 
entrance, with certain dues, that were on hand for the sick, 
and only those who kept up their dues could receive such 
a benefit. 

After about three years this society had the colored man 
on the brain; hot disputes took place, crimination and re- 
crimination, until at last they broke into pieces, and became 
as one of the past. The " Daughters of Temperance" was 
formed in the year 1848, and also met above McAllister's 
shop in the same room of the " Sons of Temperance " once 
every two weeks, on Thursday, at two p. m., thus allowing 
the school-girls over thirteen years of age an opportunity to 
run in for an hour and return just in time to spell. This 
society had about twenty-five members, of whom we could 
mention Mrs. John Bartlett, Mrs. Albert J. Potter, Sarah, 
Esther and Cornelia Grennell, Hannah, Lucy and Eliza 
Dutcher, and the Palmer sisters, Annis and Priscilla Sals- 
bury and Jane Winn. In the " Sons of Temperance " 
Chauncey Kobinson, George and Guy Salsbury, T. G. 
McAllister and Dr. Southworth were a few of the most 
prominent. 

The '^Daughters of Temperance " dissolved in 1850, and 
we are unable to give any farther facts in relation to these 
bodies, as the books are not to be found, and the members 



CLARKNDON^ IN TEMPERANCE. 2Y5 

have been scattered to the four quarters of this country or 
some other. The boys at the same time had a branch 
called the " Cadets of Temperance," under eighteen years 
of age, but, like the lamentation of Ontara, their ^^ noon 
of life " has fled away into the shadows of the once present, 
and we know not of one living who is able to give us any 
information. And such is history, that thirty-eight years 
are buried in the grave of forgetfulness in the very town 
where the actors lived and where the scenes were played. 
The first lodge of Good Templars was established in Clar- 
endon in the spring of 1868, and the meetings were held 
over McAllister's harness-shop. Abner Bailey, of Albion, 
was the founder, and at one time this order had nearly one 
hundred members, representing both ladies and gentlemen, 
which, among the married, as well as among the un- 
married, was quite popular until the novelty wore away, and 
some began again to take to their cups, while, the members 
decreasing, the rental from McAllister became too heavy, 
and they adjourned one night sine die while the furniture 
and water pitchers were put up at auction. 

After six or seven years John B. Finch came into Clar- 
endon and aroused the sleepers, who called another meeting 
under the charge of J. W. Gunnison, from Buffalo, and the 
present lodge was opened with forty-eight members. This 
has been increased to one hundred, but at present numbers 
only thirty-five. This is called ''Welcome Home Lodge, 
No. 48," bearing date October 25, 1877. The finances of 
this society allowed them at two entertainments to pay 
Lewis Patterson one hundred dollars for an organ which is 
still retained. Among the ministers who have been mem- 
bers of this order may be named Swift, Tanson, Knott, 
Lawton and Maryott. The worthy chiefs represent such 
individuals as A. L. Salsbury, A. C. Salsbury, Elder Knott, 
Eli Evarts, Alfred M. Potter, Will Glidden, James Gibson, 
Will Gibson, Will Le Roy, Allie Turner, James W. Lawton, 



276 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Charles Cramer, David Wetherbee, Perry Carver, Dennis 
Evarts and Will Coleman out of a list of over forty which 
we have not in our possession. 

This order has employed speakers from abroad at 
different times, and the names of Carswell, Hurdley, Gur- 
ney and Hess are most familiar to the people of Clarendon 
and vicinity. The town-hall since 1878 has been the 
chosen spot where the secrets of this order are safely 
stowed away in the brains of the members. At times the 
interest seems to revive, and additions will be made, and 
then backsliding takes place, so that it is impossible to 
prognosticate or judge of the future as to this movement 
in Clarendon. The good it has accomplished is kept above 
in that eternal record to us unknown. 

The Women's Christian Temperance Union was organ- 
ized at Clarendon at the camp by Mrs. J. H. Ruggles, of 
HoUey, as county organizer, on the 21st day of August, 
1883. There were at this time fourteen present, and the 
first president chosen was Mrs. Harriet Gibson. Mrs. 
William Knott has been the other president of this society. 
The other officers are a vice-president, secretary, recording 
secretary and treasurer. The following persons have held 
different places of trust : Mrs. Bina Blanchard, Mrs. 
Eunice Cook, Mrs. Nora Mowers and Mrs. Mattie Cope- 
land. This society has a superintendent of Sunday-school 
work, superintendent of scientific instruction and a super- 
intendent of juvenile work. Sarepta S. Evarts is superin- 
tendent of the first, Mrs. Clark Emery of the second branch 
and of the third Martha J. Evarts. Mrs. Etta Copeland 
has charge of temperance literature. There are at present 
eight honorary members, embracing Rev. — JSwartz, Dr. 
E. M. Crabbe, Joe Hess, H. P. Carver, Kirk Mathes, G. 
Henry Copeland, S. Herbert Copeland and Colonel N. E. 
Darrow. Meetings are held once in two weeks, on Wednes- 
day, at two p. M. The membership has been as high as 



CLAREXDOX IX TEMPER AXCE. 277 

thirty. Joe Hess, Rev. — Swartz, Rev. R.W. Copeland, Rev. 
Arthur Copeland, Mrs. Manning, Mrs. M. J. Weaver and 
Mrs. Mary F. Burt have at different times been invited by 
this society to address them. 

In February, 1888, a convention was held at the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church in Clarendon, when Mary J. Lath- 
rap was present and a very large attendance from abroad, 
the ladies of the W. C. T. U. having a very fine collation 
prepared each day for those who desired to enjoy the feast. 
A large quantity of P. A. Burdick's tracts have been dis- 
tributed, schools have been visited and A. B. Palmer's 
work, entitled " Hygiene for Young People," endorsed by 
Mrs. Hunt, has been introduced into the schools of the 
town, and the other works on the anatomy, physiology and 
hygiene of the human system carefully looked after. Dele- 
gates have also been sent to the county convention from 
this order, and the ladies have done all in their power to 
build up the cause of temperance in all classes of our 
people. This society could not have stood until the present 
unless it had within its membership women who were 
ready to attend each meeting and work and wait through 
all opposition, in good weather or bad, in hours of darkness 
or light. 

The Loyal Temperance Legion was established by the 
W. C. T. U. of Clarendon, on July 15, 1887. The present 
superintendent is Martha J. Evarts. As presidents Carrie 
Ridler and Maud Gillis ; vice-presidents, Maud Gillis and 
Le Roy Cook ; as secretaries, Gertie Preston and Maggie 
Hess ; as treasurers, Le Roy Cook and Cora Mathes ; 
organists, Rosetta Evarts and Gertie Cook; chorister, Mrs. 
Etta Copeland. The legion has thirty members, from five 
to eighteen years of age, and these are divided into classes, 
which meet during vacation every Friday afternoon, and in 
school-terms every Saturday. The exercises open with 
prayer, followed by music, recitations, singing and speak- 



278 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

ing. One feast was prepared by the legion in June, 1887, 
when the boys and girls had a good time both in eating and 
amusement. This Band of Hope should be extended so as 
to reach every district in the town, thus uniting not only 
the children, but forming a circle in which the parents 
would all be interested in the noble work for God, home 
and native land. 

When the women of Clarendon put their hearts and 
hands to any work it is as sure to move as the sun is to 
shine, and men generally understand that the fair sex have 
more energy, activity, courage and hope than they possess, 
and are not every moment, like Bunyan and his fearful 
companions, looking for some lion in the way. And they 
are deserving of the highest praise in Clarendon, for the 
majority of the men are openly or secretly opposed to their 
action in regard to temperance, and do all in their j^ower 
to block and hedge up their way by word and deed. If the 
women in every school district could be reached, and if 
their masters would only allow them horses, the W. C. T. U. 
would at once increase its members very largely, and all 
would be well. 

The movement to form a Prohibition party may have 
its date from 1878, when Carswell and Hurdley entered the 
town and held meetings one week. The first two votes for 
this party were cast by Abraham L. Salsbury and Gustavus 
St. John. Since that day there has been a great change in 
the minds of the Clarendon people on the question of 
temperance, and the Prohibition party now number about 
eighty. 

In 1883 Rev. J. Alden Copeland instituted his system of 
camps, twenty in number, located as follows : Clarendon, 
Lakeside, Olcott, Alexander, Spencerport, Cohocton, Ma- 
chias, Elmira, Corning, Bradford, Wellsville, Cuba, Con- 
esus Lake, Spencer, Smithboro, Freeville, North Hector, 
Tonawanda, Northfield and Aurora, increasing them in 



CLARENDON IN TEMPERANCE. 279 

years following to thirty-five. This was really the founda- 
tion of the 8t. John circuit, which reached from Erie 
county as far east as the Hudson river, a chain of camps 
that has done mighty work for the cause of temperance. 

The camp at Clarendon has been under the management 
of S. Herbert Copeland, and has closed its sixth annual 
session in George M. Copeland's grove, on Hulberton street. 
The annual attendance during meetings, from six to ten 
days, would reach, at a low estimate, twelve thousand, on 
certain days as high as three thousand. Speakers, the most 
talented in the Prohibition ranks, have been called from 
different parts of the Union to address the multitude. 
Bain of Kentucky, Brooks of Missouri, Beauchamp of Ohio, 
St. John of Kansas, Sobieski of Illinois, Clark of Michi- 
gan, Small of Georgia, Copeland of Ohio, Cheevers of 
Georgia, Searls of Auburn, Finch of Nebraska, Dorches- 
ter of Massachusetts, J. A. Copeland of New York, Green, 
Clay, Smith of Kentucky, Ellen J. Foster, Mary T. Lath- 
rap, Mrs. St. John, Mary Livermore, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. 
Yeomans, Clara Hoffman and Mrs. Fixen have trod the 
rostrum under the grand canopy of shade and made the 
woods to echo with their earnest voices. Strangers visit 
this camp from all the neighboring counties, and there is 
only one other in the state, devoted to the cause of prohibi- 
tion, that is more largely attended. When the sun smiles 
upon the grove, carriages may be seen moving from all 
points of the compass toward this noted spot, while the 
stars and stripes float proudly above, giving each one clearly 
to understand that the country, and the whole country, is 
the rallying center. 

When we reflect that Clarendon is three miles aw^ay from 
the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. station, and that the people can reach 
this ground only by conveyances over country roads, or by 
journeys on foot, then we can appreciate the power, force 
and meaning of such a large gathering as this camp yearly 



280 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

oalls to Copeland's grove. If any person had dared, at the 
beginning, to foretell the future of this movement, he 
would have been called a lunatic, or devoid of common 
sense. And, most certainly, Clarendon should never cease 
to thank J. Alden Copeland for thus opening wide the 
door for the orators of the nation to enter, when the good 
people could enjoy the richness of their mental and moral 
worth, the grace of eloquence, the power of reasoning, and 
the depth of truth which have been displayed upon these 
different occasions by those whom thousands in great cities 
have never heard. 

These camps have produced arguments in every light, 
the result of much thought, the very essence of all that 
has gone before, upon the use and abuse of liquors, and 
•every question that could possibly arise out of the sale of 
these beverages, whether by tax or otherwise, so that tli^e 
people of Clarendon have received the Alpha and Omega of 
the whole subject at their very doors, and if they are now 
blind upon this open volume of temperance it is because 
they are like the Pharisees of the Saviour's time, as those 
who will not come unto the light, that they might see. 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 281 



CHAPTER XYl. 

CLARENDON IN WAR. 

TURN back the pages of Time's volume, and there the 
inquisitive will find carved out in bold relief the sons 
of Clarendon who did their country noble service when 
George Washington looked down the lines, and the future 
hope of this Republic was through blood, defeat, untold 
suffering, and all the unnumbered ills which overshadowed 
the land from Boston Bay to the Savannah, from Lake 
Erie to the capes of Delaware. When war's rude blast had 
died away into that holy calm which lovely peace ever 
brings, in this town some of these old veterans lived and 
died, pursuing their laboi's, ever bearing in mind the scenes 
through which they had passed. 

In the Robinson graveyard rest the bodies of some who 
have no stones to mark their place of burial, or to furnish 
the historian with data from which to inform others. In 
this list we may include Thomas McManners, a colored 
man, who, when a slave at the sunny South, ran away from 
his master and joined the Federal army. His master came, 
in hot pursuit, to the camp, and demanded his pro^ierty. 
The officer in charge asked the trembling boy if he wished 
to go back to the old plantation. "No, sah!" "Then, 
you needn't! " came from the officer, and the owner dropped 
his jaw and went his way, to curse the army. According 
to Horace Peck, McManners was the best old soldier in 
town — one who was very modest in his nature, not given 
to boasting, or telling great yarns as to how many red- coats 
he had laid low, how many dangerous places he had been 



282 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

in, or how very often he had been saved just by the '^skin 
of his teeth." He had that air of truth about him that 
ever inspires the listener with the feeling that the narrator 
knows what he is telling to be correct. He was present- 
with Washington during tlie awful days of Valley Forge, 
and acted as a servant at his quarters. Those were the 
times that tried men's souls, as Tom Paine wrote, when the 
soldiers could be tracked by the blood left behind, while 
the British were having plenty to eat, drink and wear, in 
their snug encampment in the then Tory City of New York. 
But this brave old soldier has laid down his knapsack, and 
long ere this has met many of his comrades in that country 
where men learn war no more. 

Charles Lee, often called captain, was another of the few 
who were willing to give all to save this beautiful land 
from oppression. No tombstone, not even a board, tells 
where his dust rei^oses, and we must pass him by, leaving 
his record to be unfolded in the world to come. 

Ira Dodge was carried away by his friends, and the gravel 
thrown upon his plain coffin, but no one cared enough 
about his memory to leave us one word of his noble service 
in the Revolution. How little some men, and even towns, 
respect the heroic dead, compared with Greece or Rome, 
where orations were pronounced over those who had lived 
or died for their country ! 

In 1830 the light went out of John Dodge's eyes, that 
had once shone in the smoke of battle, when Great Britain 
was doing all in her power to strangle Young America in 
the cradle. But thanks to the Ruler of the universe, who 
inspired the souls of such men with that courage, devotion 
and self-sacrifice, that this haughty power was glad to sail 
away and leave the child to grow up to manhood. His 
deeds are unwritten, his conflicts unknown, and he, too, 
must go down into the chambers of that silence whose secrets 
we cannot unlock. 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 283 

At the age of seventy-five years, Ebenezer Lewis, in 1828, 
'May like a warrior taking his rest," with the shroud 
wrapped around him. Had he not known the bravest to 
fall in the scream of the conflict ? But he was reserved to 
pass away quietly, falling to sleep as gently as he had in 
his last home on the Byron road. Where are now his blood 
and bone? Gone, like some sunbeam, back again to their 
native land — the Eternity of Eternities I He was of noble 
stock — a man full of energy, and must have been, in the 
days of '76, one upon whom Washington could rely in any 
emergency. 

William Tousley, the head of all the Tousleys of Claren- 
don, died in 1827, at sixty-six years of age, and could have 
been only fourteen when the battle of Lexington was 
fought. When he enlisted we cannot say, but eight long 
years of bloody war gave him plenty of time to take down 
his musket, put on his flint and keep his powder dry for 
the English bull-dogs. It would be truly interesting if 
Tousley would walk in for a few moments and give us a 
full account of his actions during the service, and we would 
be sure to get the whole truth, now that he has sojourned 
in a region where yarns and lies have no market value. He 
could tell us of the long, long march, when the half-starved 
soldier would have been willing to have mortgaged his 
after-life for one good meal, or one sleep in which he could 
rest without being awakened. But we can now say, '^ Sol- 
dier, rest, thy warfare o'er," and over his cold ashes drop 
the tear of respect, as we pass by. 

Forty-four years ago, at the age of 83, Benjamin Pet- 
tengill, one of the old Pettengills, fell asleep in Clarendon. 
His house of clay, which his brave spirit occupied, was 
placed in the Christian burying-ground. He could have 
been but a lad of fourteen when the battle of Lexington 
was fought, and if he took a very active part in the strug- 
gle, must have been a hero. The last full pensioner of the 



284 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Revolutionary War died in Clarendon at the advanced age 
■of 107, the stone says ; but the records only give 104, 
which is probably correct. The only stain upon his mem- 
ory is the fact that he deeded to his son a farm to avoid the 
payment of taxes to his town of Clarendon, which seems 
very strange in an old soldier. If the failure to receive the 
farm back again was sufficient punishment, verily he had 
his reward, for the son retained the farm until his death, 
and then it went down to his heirs. The author has a dis- 
tinct recollection of Lemuel Cook, the old soldier. He 
was as white above his eyes as Kip Van Winkle, his hair 
hanging in long locks down to his coat-collar, with a heavy 
face, large mouth, prominent nose, and when he opened his 
lips he could be heard the whole length of Main street 
by a deep, gasping, choking, exploding "A-hem !" which 
attracted the attention of all, and would have frightened a 
modern infant into fits. He was very deliberate in his 
walk, resting upon a heavy staff, and moving at a snail's 
pace in his latter days. If one desired to speak with him, 
he had the pleasure of taking in a full inspiration of breath, 
with the certainty that he would need the whole supply be- 
fore the auditorium of the aged veteran was penetrated. 
He was with Washington at Valley Forge, and at the sur- 
render of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, when the British 
Lion forgot to open his jaws. For years George M. Cope- 
land collected his pension, and Cook came down regularly 
to receive what Uncle Sam owed him. When he died Col. 
James Fuller was invited to deliver the sermon, and the 
exercises were held on the Root road, in the woods now 
owned by Tommy Benton. A few boards were placed in 
front of the speaker, where the coffin rested, and the large 
audience seated themselves as best they could, and for two 
hours listened to the eloquent words which came pouring 
forth in memory of the departed soldier. The text was 
taken from the words, " We have heard with our ears, our 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 285 

fathers have told us/' etc. This was the most impressive 
funeral that ever took place in Clarendon, and the only one 
that has ever been held in that most beautiful and grand of 
all, God's temple, the woods, where the golden pencils of 
light came streaming down through the arches of shade in 
all the richness of glory and softness of perfect peace and 
hallowed rest. In the words of Byron — 

" He has fought his last fight, 
He has seen his last battle, 
No sound can awake him to glory again." 

In the Eoot graveyard, not far from Lemuel Cook's re- 
mains, is the grave of Lorana H. Davis, who was a pensioner 
of the war of 1812, and died at four-score and six years. 
Under whom he fought, and when, we cannot tell, as the 
witnesses, or those possessed of the facts, are to us unknown. 
Chauncey Eobinson was drafted into this war, the first year 
of his married life, and went to the frontier to fight under 
General Porter, about 1814, leaving his lovely lady, Anna 
Lewis, to mourn his forced departure. If the ancient cus- 
tom of allowing the husband the first year of his wedded 
state had been in vogue at this time, Chauncey could have 
sat by his fire-place and smiled over the situation. There 
have been other soldiers of this war from Clarendon, but we 
have not access to the records, and therefore must leave 
them to slumber, while their works do follow them. In the 
patriot war of the thirties, there were some in this region 
who looked cross-eyed over the borders, but we have never 
known of any of the would-be patriots who have desired to 
have their names or deeds recorded. The Mexican war had 
Martin Higgins, who was working on the New York Cen- 
tral Railroad at Schenectady,in May,1847. With twenty-five 
other volunteers, he steamed down the Hudson to New 
York, and was transported to Mexico. The soldiers 
marched for nights in the mountains, in order to avoid the 
natives, and join the grand army. Martin was present at 



286 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the street fight in the City of Mexico, when the City Hall 
surrendered to the forces under General Scott. Not one of 
the dusky Mexicans succeeded in running Higgins through 
with a lance, or with their muskets leaving some of his 
Irish blood to make green the streets of their lovely city. 
He escaped all the diseases peculiar to that climate, and re- 
turned in fine condition to New York, thence to Washing- 
ton, where he was discharged in 1849, when the Whigs 
ruled the nation. 

We have thus taken the reader, as best we could, over 
the road from the Kevolution through the Mexican war, 
and the meager details we have given only tend to show 
how little can be known, or even related, of the past, unless 
we have the actors before us to examine and cross-examine, 
in order to arrive at the truth. 

When the bloody Rebellion blew its awful trumpet. 
Clarendon, like every other town in the whole country, was 
startled as if some earthquake had rolled through its bor- 
ders. The town was so closely divided upon party lines, 
Democratic and Republican, that a deep feeling of hatred 
seemed to take the place of reason and good sense, and in- 
stead of joining heart and hand to aid the government, a 
large class were ready to look back over their shoulders, 
cursing the ones who started the slavery agitation, and 
using all their strength in windy discussions ever the causes 
of the war. When we now look at these days, through the 
events of the past, and with our own experience to aid in 
summing up the acts and actors of that period, we can but 
admit that the course pursued by those opposed to the war 
was as dangerous to the safety of the nation as would be the 
mutiny of a ship's crew in a hurricane, when the vessel 
was on her beam-ends. There were certain individuals who 
were called by the Republicans " Copperheads," who loved 
to hear of a victory achieved by Lee's forces, but who 
always looked stormy and very chap-fallen when McClellan 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 



287 



or any other Union general had secured a triumph. So 
much did the love of self, and hatred of Republicans, rule 
the mind, that old men left their farms to spend long days 
in the heated discussions which these times naturally en- 
gendered. It was well for Clarendon that these old grum- 
blers were too far along in years to be of any particular 
service to the town in which they lived. 

The first enlistment of soldiers out of Clarendon was in 
May, 1861, for the 13th Regiment of New York Volun- 
teers. The Clarendon boys, Warren L. Peck, Joseph 
Thompson, John North, Clinton Hood, Marion Patterson, 
and Thomas Westcott, all enlisted under Captain Hiram 
Smith, in the city of Rochester, and were sworn in for three 
months, unless sooner discharged. WilHam H. Seward had 
said that ninety days would end the war, and therefore the 
first call by Abraham Lincoln was for 75,000 men for three, 
months only. The Colonel of the 13th was I. F. Quinby 
of Rochester; Lieut.-Col.,Steffinof Dansville ; Major, Terry 
of Rochester ; Quartermaster, Rochester of Rochester, and 
the Chaplain was from Brockport. The boys left Roches- 
ter on the 27th day of May, 1861, and after remaining in 
the Elmira barracks for two weeks, were transferred to 
Washington. On the 21st day of July, 1861, they had the 
pleasure of meeting the enemy at Bull Run, but they could 
not say, in the words of Oliver Hazard Perry, that " they 
are ours," for the Johnny Rebs came very near capturing 
the whole of these brave Yanks, who ran like white-heads, 
believing that the Black-Horse Cavalry were just at their 
heels. Of course, the Clarendon boys of the 13th were as 
brave as any other town volunteers, and if they did some 
fine retreating, they remembered the old couplet— 
" He who figlits, and runs away, 
May live to fight some other day." 

After this snuff of bloody war the boys all began to 
think of '' home, sweet home," or " the girls they left 



288 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

behind them," and were not so anxious to again meet the 
Johnnies in mortal combat. When the three months had 
expired, they wanted their eleven dollars a month, if they 
had not had it, and their discharge immediately. Warren 
L. Peck and John North refused to stay any longer, as in 
truth their time was out, but the government insisted 
upon their remaining, but they said '*No!" and on Sep- 
tember 4, 1861, they were landed, with thirty others, to 
work upon the forts at Dry Tortuga, off the Florida coast, 
where they could wheel brick, mount cannon and work like 
slaves until March 4, 1862, when they were taken to New 
York, thence to Washington, and very kindly given a fur- 
lough of thirty days, so as to salve over the heart-wounds, 
and once more prepare them to fight like good soldiers. 

After joining the army under George B. McClellan, at 
Harrison's Landing, Warren and North were in the York- 
town, Winchester and seven day's fights on the Peninsula, 
and Peck was taken prisoner at Gaines' Mills and at first 
sent to Libby prison, then to Belle Isle. At these pens the 
officers, not satisfied with half-starving the " d — d 
Yankees," as they called them, would shoot any soldier if 
he stuck his head out of the window or attempted to 
cross the dead line, which was only about ten paces from- 
the barracks or prison in which they were kept. When 
Peck entered these death-traps he was in fair condition, 
but when exchanged he had the inflammatory rheumatism, 
and was sent to the hospital on Bedloe's Island, in New 
York harbor, and afterward received an honorable dis- 
charge. 

When the news reached Clarendon that our boys had 
been terribly beaten at Bull Run, what a scene occurred ! 
The parents who had sons in that battle were nearly wild 
with excitement ; fathers rushing up and down the streets 
with their eyes standing out of the sockets, and mothers 
and sisters lamenting the day that Johnny, or some other 



CLARENDON IN WAE. 



289 



lad, inarched away to join the army. Teams could be seen 
on every road, and each person wishing to know the news ; 
some taking the cars to Rochester, hoping to telegraph to 
Washington to find out where such and such soldiers 
were, and all kinds of business seemed for the moment to 
be at a stand-still. The newspapers made the situation as 
black as they could picture it, and every one expected that 
the next mail would bring the news that Beauregard had 
entered Washington. But the history of all campaigns 
clearly demonstrate that but very few officers know how to 
take advantage of a victory, and the battle of Bull Run 
only added one more case to prove the truth of the state- 
ment. 

Then, to walk into the stores or shops in Clarendon and 
hear old gray-beards wag their heads and say " I told you 
so!" and ''Good! Good!" was enough to paralyze the 
feelings of those who were interested by having their own 
blood and bone in the awful coil of war. But time has 
a wonderful power of familiarizing the heart and mind to 
the terrible realities of this life, and in a few days the good 
people of Clarendon began, like the rest of the nation, to 
shake off the chains of fear and arouse themselves to a just 
sense of the true condition of affairs at Washington. To 
us it seems very strange that with all the past teaching of 
history in relation to civil strife, that the whole country 
should have been so blind to the truth, so unwilling to 
believe that either side really meant to fight, or that the 
strife would be of any duration. A veil of absolute dark- 
ness had been drawn over the minds of the wise men, both 
north and south, and as the Jews, in the days of Titus, 
who would not believe that the Holy City could be taken, 
or the temple destroyed, so our people could not see before 
them four years of the bloodiest struggles the world has 
ever known. And it was well for Clarendon and all the 
towns of the north that Bull Run was a signal defeat, for 



290 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

it roused the people and taught them that they could not 
boast in going into the fight as one in coming out. It 
also placed before them the dying and the dead; the 
mangled, bleeding, gasping, groaning, shrieking and moan- 
ing of war, horrible war! not in reality, but in awful 
picturing, which the words " died on the battle-field," or 
" in the hospital " produced upon their hearts when far away. 

The 105th N. Y. V. had one company under Captain 
Henry Smith, of Murray, which went to the front, the 
regiment under the command of Colonel James H. Fuller, 
in November, 1861. The only Clarendon boys in this 
company and regiment were J. P. Bailey, Hiram Cady, 
Nathaniel Conners, Lucius Hickey, William Joiner, Charles 
Minick, George True, Edward True and George Weed. 
Cady was killed at the first battle of Fredricksburgh, and 
the sun of Clarendon never again shone on him. He died 
on the field, and this is glory enough. There is now not 
one of these soldiers in Clarendon, save Nathaniel Con- 
ners, who was present at the Fredricksburgh fight, doing 
his best for his country, and who was subsequently dis- 
charged for disability. The remainder of the company 
went through the two years and fought the good fight under 
the noble George B. McClellan. 

The 151st Regiment N. Y. V. was composed mostly of 

men from Orleans and surrounding counties. 

Colonel — William Emerson, of Albion. 

Lieutenant-Colonel — Erwin A. Bowen, of Medina. 

Captain — Hezekiah Bowen, Company A. 

Captain — Benjamin Coleman, Company B. 

Captain — McMannes, Company C. 

Captain — George Hutcliinson, Company D. 

Captain — Imo, Company E. 

Captain — Wilson, Company F. 

Captain— A. J. Potter, Clarendon, Company Q. 

Captain — Clark, Company H. 

Captain — Augustus G. Collins, Company I. 

Captain — Wilde, Company K, 

Adjutant — J. A. Jewell, of Buffalo. 

Quartermaster- Sergeant — McDonald, of Niagara County. 

Chaplain — E. M. Buck. 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 291 

This regiment had a drum corps and also a silver horn 
band, which was detailed from each company and was paid 
for by the officers. Thomas Cheshire, of Medina, was the 
leader, and this band was considered one of the best and 
he sounded all the calls for the regiment. The 151st left 
Lockport on the 23d of October, 18G2, and were in the 
following engagements: Mine Run, Monocacy, Winches- 
ter, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cedar Creek, Petersburg and 
Cold Harbor. 

Thirteen out of the eighteen boys from Clarendon re- 
turned. Captaiu A. J. Potter was discharged for deafness 
by a full medical board on October 27, 1863. William 
Cook, one of the best singers that Clarendon has known^ 
was in this regiment, and died at Harper's Ferry from 
typhoid fever. John M. Wetherbee, of Captain Potter's 
company, lost his foot at Mine Run or Locust Grove, and 
from this wound resulted his death, as we have stated 
elsewhere. 

The other members of this regiment from Clarendon will 
be found in the roll which we append to this chapter. The 
pay of the boys at this time was 113.00 per month, and 
of Captain Potter, without rations, $G0.00. Capt. A. J. Pot- 
ter and George D. Cramer are the only ones of these boys 
now living in Clarendon. The regiment saw very much of 
hard fighting under General Grant, and in the Wilderness 
and at other points, for three long years, had terrible pound- 
ing. In the first of their service, the 129th had a fine time, 
until they were ordered to the front by General Grant, 
when they soon discovered that war in hours of peace was 
very different from war in the smoke of the battle-field. 
This regiment, known as the 8th Heavy Artillery, had some 
eighteen hundred men, and while at Fort Federal Hill took 
life as easy as any other regiment would near a city like 
Baltimore. But when they marched against Lee's veterans 
they lost in killed and wounded, in the first fight. Cold 



292 HISTOEY OF CLARENDON. 

Harbor, 635 men. In this battle, George D. Church, while 
cheering his men bravely on, had a bnllet pass through his 
hair, almost as close as a scalping-knife, and Thomas West- 
cott was struck just above the nose, the ball coming out in 
his neck, and he, straightening himself on his pins, said r 
" I am shot," without ever falling. But that fatal ball, in 
after years, hastened his death, and he died at Holley, one 
of the bravest boys that old Clarendon sent to the field. 
George D. Church, from his suffering in the army, in a few 
years after his return, fell into a consumption, and he, too, 
passed away — one who never knew what fear was, when 
leading the boys into the jaws of death. When Grant sent 
this regiment forward in the awful struggle at Reams Sta- 
tion, the Johnnies swung around them, and took the most 
of them prisoners, capturing their colors, and leaving the 
bearer stiff and cold upon the field. The flag was taken 
away down into South Carolina, and, after the war, was sent 
to the regiment, and is now at Medina, all tattered and 
torn, bearing the name of Col. Peter A. Porter, having been 
presented by his sister to the boys. There are only three 
remaining in Clarendon who went out to battle for their 
country in this regiment — Orson T. Cook, Charles Cook, 
and Samuel Fincher. The last-named individual may be 
seen very often in the streets of Clarendon and Holley, 
bearing upon his manly breast the badge showing that at 
one time he belonged to the gallant army that at length 
made General Lee to sheathe his sword forever. 

In the 27th N. Y. V., J. Alden Copeland, a student at 
Lima, in the Genesee College, enlisted when hardly eighteen, 
in the spring of 1861. He joined the company from Lima, 
and the regiment was made up from the different towns in 
the vicinity. Henry W. Slocum was the colonel, and Bart- 
lett, from Binghamton, lieutenant-colonel. The regiment 
was barracked for some time at Corning, and soon after 
reaching Washington was hurried to the front, under the 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 293 

leadership of tliat once good officer, Winfield Scott. At the 
battle of Bull Run this regiment did its best to save the 
day, but all efforts were useless, and the sun went down 
upon the northern hosts defeated and fleeing. Copeland 
only weighed about 120 pounds, but managed in the heat 
of that day to carry a heavy Springfield musket for another 
tired soldier more than twenty pounds heavier than him- 
self. The day was very hot, and when night came he threw 
himself on the Virginia turf and slept as only a soldier can. 
In the morning, when he awoke, not a soldier was to be 
seen, and he made the best of his way to Washington, look- 
ing out for someone to pick him up on the way. For two 
years Copeland was marker of the regiment, and followed 
its fortunes through the seven days of bloody fighting, 
when the gunboats saved the army from being annihilated. 
The Rochester Union and Advertiser weekly contained his 
letters from the seat of war, and all over Western New 
York his correspondence was looked for with much inter- 
est by those having friends around the camp-fires in those 
days of early warfare. 

J. A. Copeland was in the Franklin grand division of 
the army under Gen. G-eorge B. McClellan, and for two 
years was in all the general engagements, without receiving 
a wound from the enemy, and was not in the hospital one 
day. When he was discharged he held the position of cor- 
poral, and on his return to Rochester was placed upon the 
staff of the Union and Advertiser by Isaac Butts, in con- 
sideration of his services as war correspondent for this 
journal. 

It was an awful sin for soldiers to take anything without 
paying for it, and we had forgotten Bonaparte's way of re- 
ducing a country. One of the lads was in the habit, while 
in winter quarters, of taking more or less of flour out of a 
mill near by for his own use. While he was thus confisca- 
ting, the soldiers came upon him, led by the miller's boy, 



29-1 HISTORY OF CLARENDOX. 

and soon captured the rogue. " All right, boys, you have 
got me at last," he said, and when they reached the door 
he made one bound, and was lost in the darkness. The 
next day he met the boy, and told him that he had heard 
about the capture and escape of the night before. "Yes," 
said the lad, "he is a devil, for he got away from the sol- 
diers." "I know him well," replied Harrington, "and un- 
less you keep away from him lie will kill you." After this 
information the boy slept o' nights, and allowed the flour 
to go or remain, as Harrington thought fit. 

Since those days of first experience in gory fields of 
strife, Colonel Slocum has been advanced up the ladder of 
promotion, until now he is a major-general of the U. S. A., 
and before the brave Bartlett heard the last bugle-call of 
Time he also was a general. 

In September, 1861, William Wetherbee enlisted in the 
12th U. S. Infantry at Rochester, and was with them on 
the Peninsula until the seven days' fight, when he was sent 
to the hospital, and afterward discharged. The officers of 
this regiment were all West Pointers, and Wetherbee is the 
only one from Clarendon that joined the regulars. As will 
be seen by reference to the roll, Eugene Dutton belonged 
to Doubleday's Heavy Artillery, and he must have been 
more or less affected by the cannon's roar, as he hears not 
the sweet song of the distant meadow lark as distinctly now 
as he did when he lived in old Clarendon. 

Fred Dutton, who now travels upon the road, has not for- 
gotten Cold Harbor, and the effect that day produced upon 
his soul, when men fell like leaves of the forest around him. 

In the 151st Regiment, George D. Cramer would be routed 
out all hours of the night to take charge of his wagon train, 
and get the baggage in line to move upon its way. This 
must have been a very unpleasant position, with drivers 
cursing, mules kicking, and the muddy roads of Virginia 
to pass over. It seems strange that the Clarendon soldiers 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 



295 



preferred tlie infantry service to the cavalry, but such is the 
truth, and Lawler, Elsom and Pullis were the only three 
who rode the high-spirited steed, and imitated the actions 
of Murat, or, perhaps, imagined themselves in a charge, as 
belonging to the brave Six Hundred, of whom Charles 
Mackay and Tennyson sang so grandly. If a Johnny dared 
to show his head in the wrong place, the " click" of Sals- 
bury's breech-loader would very soon give him a long rest. 
We might spend pages over these boys, who made Claren- 
don famous from Washington to the James, from Harper's 
Ferry to Kichmond. 

William H. Westcott, who was lieutenant in Co. K, 
129th Regiment, was a good soldier during the war. He 
became a very successful hardware merchant in Clarendon, 
and, since his removal to Holley, carried on one of the 
largest and best supplied boot and shoe stores in Western 
New York. He is now a leading citizen of Holley, and a 
main pillar in the Methodist church of this place — first 
and foremost in every good work. 

An organization has been formed, called the Orleans 
County Veteran Regiment, of which A. J. Potter, of Clar- 
endon, is colonel. It now numbers about 500 men who 
once wore the blue in the civil war. Each town has its own 
captain. The lieutenant-colonel is John Parks of Medina ; 
major, N. W. Kidder of Kendall; adjutant, J.J.Brown 
of Albion ; surgeon, M. E. Gillett of Kendall ; quarter- 
master, Charles A. Maybee of Holley; sergeant-major, 
Samuel Tent of Barre. The following is a list of the cap- 
tains for 1888: 

Clarendon — Captain George D. Cramer. 
Murray — Captain Elisha Bronson. 
Kendall — Captain J. W. Simkins. 
Barre — Captain Riley Tinkham. 
Albion — Captain W. Young. 
Carlton — Captain Jerome. 
Shelby — Captain Young. 
Ridge way — Captain Hopkins. 
Yates — Captain Ayers. 



296 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

The ladies of Clarendon are entitled to much praise for 
what they did during the Avar. According to a report given 
in as early as October, 1862, they had, at this time, fur- 
nished three boxes and two barrels, containing every vari- 
ety of articles necessary for the sick and wounded, amount- 
ing in the aggregate to over $300. From this time until 
the close of the war, in 1865, the women of Clarendon, 
whose husbands were not opposed to the war, did all in 
their power to help and assist the suffering soldiers at the 
front, who were battling for their country. The chief 
actors in thus furnishing supplies were Mrs. L. A. Cope- 
land, Mrs. William H. Cooper, Mrs. Amos Pettengill, Mrs. 
Phebe Culver, Mrs. John Church, Mrs. Stephen Church, 
Mrs. E. M. Kelley, Mrs. George D. Cramer, Mrs. C. B. 
Packard, Mrs. T. G. McAllister, Mrs. T. E. G. Pettengill, 
Mrs. Benjamin Copeland, Mrs. Eliza D. Pettengill, and 
many others, whose names we cannot give. At one chief 
house in town the women were told that " they should not 
have a rag!" This will serve as one instance to show the 
public feeling in the minds of those who would have re- 
sponded if some one had asked them for a little lint for 
General Lee's forces. We regret exceedingly that we are 
unable to give the sum total of the aid furnished the brave 
soldiers by the women of Clarendon, but this is recorded in 
one Book, where full credit is allowed, and the whole truth 
shown to the minds of all. 

The first draft for Orleans county, under the call for 
300,000 men, took place in Rochester, August 8, 1863. As 
the wheel rolled around, the following names were drawn 
out by one person blindfolded, as the list from Clarendon : 

Horace Coy, Wm. L. Willoughby, Fred. A. Salsbury, 

Jefferson Glidden, Horace P. Mitchell, Zebulon B. Packard, 

Hiram B. Joslyn, George W. Storius, Ferdinand DeCeter, 

Charles Myers, Rens. E. Howard, Millard Storms, 

John Murphy, Peter Barnett, Edward Riley, 

Joseph Copton, Alonzo Page, James Grifl&th, 

Ely H. Cook, Edward G. Nay, Wm. M. Pratt, 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 



297 



George B. Hood, 
Thomas R. Glidden, 
Stephen B. Salsbury, 
Conrad Giinther, 
Jas. M. Templeton, 
Edward P. True, 
Chauncey Burnham, 
Albert D. Turner, 
George H. Bassett, 
Joseph Nyms, 



Darwin M. Inman, 
Francis H. Clark, 
Francis Feather, 
Thos, Mulligan, 
Marvin T. Fuller, 
George E. Cowles, 
Charles D. Butler, 
Frank. A. Knowles, 
John F. Elliott, 



Franklin W. Cook, 
Richard W. Ketchum, 
George T. Hammond. 
Andrew M. Caton, 
Daniel T. Starkey, 
George Howard, 
John J. Stevens, 
Nelson W, Mower, 
Gustavus A, St, John. 



This was the first time in the history of Clarendon that 
men were forced to go to war, and many began to think of 
the days when a Bonaparte levied his conscripts to carry on 
his mighty schemes of conquest and defense. The excite- 
ment was intense, and many went about the streets with 
faces that wore the appearance of having been in the 
Slough of Despond. There was no way of escape, save by 
paying for a substitute, or fleeing over the border, to Can- 
ada, where the queen would afford protection so long as one 
kept his feet from Yankee soil. Clarendon passed through 
another draft, but the town records do not give the names 
of those who were called to try the stern realities of the 
battle-field. The price of substitutes was very high, and 
one of the Clarendon boys received $1,400, and only reached 
Elmira, when the close of the war gave him his bounty 
without requiring his services. 

We have been furnished the following roll of names who 
were enlisted in Clarendon during the war, as Captain A. 
J. Potter has in his keeping : 

Wm. Anner, 13th N. Y. V. 
Charles Avery, 13th. 
Hiram Allen, Co. K, 129th. 
Thomas Barry, Co. K, 129th. 
Abram Baldwin, Co. G, 151st. 
Merritt Bateman, Co. K, 129th 
J. P. Bailey, 105th. 
Philip Cornell, Co. K, 129th. 
J. M. Cook, Co. G, 151st. 
George D. Church, 1st Lieuten- 
ant, Co. K, 129th. 
Orson T. Cook, Co. K, 129th. 



Wm. H. Cook, Co. G, 151st. 
G. D. Cramer, Co. G, 151st. 
Levi Curtis, Co. K, 129th. 
Charles Cook, Co. K, 129th. 
J. A. Copeland, 27th. 
Hiram Cady, 105th. 
Charles Cornell, Co. K, 129th. 
Nathaniel Conner, 105th. 
Mark Downing, Co. K, 129th. 
Lewis E. Darrow, Co. G, 151st. 
Eugene Dutton, Doubleday's Art. 
Fred Dutton, Co. K, 129th 



298 



HISTUliY OF CLAKENDON. 



Pat, Dolan, Co. K, 139th. 
Thomas Elsom, 8th Cavalry. 
J. J. French, Co. K, 129th. 
Samuel Fiucher, Co. K, 129th. 
Martin V. Foster, Co. G, 151st. 
Franklin Fury, 129th. 
Homer Holmes, 129th. 
William Holmes, 129th. 
Benj. Hines, 129th. 
Wm. I. Halleck, 129th. 
Henry Hunt, 129th. 

D. C. Hood, 13th. 
Michael Heitz, Co. K, 139th. 
Lucius Hickey, lOoth. 

Pat. Hays, Co. G, 151st. 
Wm. Joiner, 105th. 
J. H. Kirby, Doubleday's. 
Peter Lawler, 3d Cavalry. 
S. W. Lawrence, Co. G, 151st. 
Hosea Lawrence, Co. G, 151st. 
Matt. McFarlan, Co. K, 129th. 
John McFarlan, Co. K, 129th. 

C. L. Matson, Co. G, 151st. 
Abner Merrill, West Point, 1862. 
William Mepsted, Co. K, 129th. 

E. D. Merrill, Co. G, 151st. 
Charles Minick, 105th. 
Owen McAllister, 128th. 

D. W. Prellis, 8th Cavalry. 
Zebulon Packard, 52d. 

A. J. Potter, Captain Co. G, 151st 
W. L. Peck, 13th. 
Marion Patterson, 11th Heavy. 
Chas. L. Pridmore, Co. G, 151st. 



A. J. Reed, Co. K, 129th. 

Charles A. Reynolds. 129th. 

Daniel Root, Co. G, 15l8t. 

H. L. Saulsbury, Co. G, 151st. 

J. M. Sherman, Co. K, 129th. 

J. P. Schedd, Co. G, 151st. 

J. W. Stevens, 140th. 

G. F. Siegler, Co. G, 151st. 

Erastus Storr, Co. K, 129th. 

Benj. Swan, Co. K, 129th. 

Cornelius Sullivan, 129th. 

H. C. Taylor, 140th. 

G. F. Tripp, Co. K, 129th. 

Joseph Thompson, 13th. 

George True, 105th. 

Edward True, 105th. 

Aden Taylor, 8th Cavalry. 

Van Antwerp, 129th. 

Nathaniel Vinton, Co. K, 129th. 

Amos Wetherbee, Co K, 129th. 

John M. Wetherbee, lat Sergeant 

Co. G. 151st. 
Wm. Wetherbee, 12th U. S. Inf'y. 
Albert Weller, Co. G. 151st. 
William H. Westcott, Lieutenant 

Co. K, 129th. 
Thos. Westcott, Orderly Sergeant 

Co. K, 129th. 
W. H. Weirs, Co. K, 129th. 
Luther Weirs, Co. K, 129th. 
.George Weed, 105th. 
T. A. Salsbury, Sharpshooter, 

151st. 
Irwin Jenkins, 8th Heavy Art'y. 



Harmon L. Salsbury rose from captain to be colonel in a 
colored regiment. George D. Church came home as cap- 
tain. Many of the brave boys, since those bloody days, 
have laid down life's armor and are now side by side with 
those they met upon the tented field. The smoke and car- 
nage of the conflict have passed away ; the sighs and groans 
of the wounded and dying have been hushed forever, and 
sweet flowers now hang their pearl drops of dew where 
many a noble heart looked upon the sun for the last time. 
Down in the trenches, in the valleys, by the grand, waving 
trunks of the wilderness, near some babbling stream, or by 



CLARENDON IN WAR. 299 

some rushing river, rest the bodies of Clarendon's dead, 
side by side, the blue and the gray, made friends in the 
quiet sleep of the old Virginia grave. Happy will the 
children of Clarendon be, if they never awake to hear the 
loud cannon's jar, or the rattle of the musketry, driving 
dove-eyed Peace in terror from earth to heaven! 



300 HISTOKY OF CLAJBENDON. 



CHAPTER XYII. 



CLARENDON BOYS. 



FROM the different portions of Clarendon have arisen 
boys who have not only reflected honor upon them- 
selves while in her borders, but also when away made her 
name worthy of praise and admiration ; and we very much 
doubt whether any other town in the Empire State, propor- 
tionately to its population, can show the noble record 
which Clarendon opens up to all who wish to know, or 
desire to understand. Why this little town, only touched at 
its northern boundary by a railway and possessing but the 
natural advantages which God has given it, should have 
produced from its lime-rocks, swamps and woodland the 
brain and soul-power she has, we cannot tell or give any 
reason. One might answer that the want of riches was a 
stimulus to wealth of mind, or that the lack of manufac- 
turing and speculation gave abundant opportunity for the 
employment of other powers that in the future were certain 
to produce fruit. 

It is well known from one limit of this Republic to the 
other that the country outside of the city has furnished the 
strongest, brightest and healthiest material out of which 
the destinies of this nation have been carved. We take 
pride in placing at the head of our column James T. 
Lewis, who was the son of Colonel Shubael Lewis, and born 
on the Byron road, where now Thomas Butcher takes solid 
ease and comfort. In 1838 Lewis was made sergeant in 
Captain Thomas W. Maine's company of New York 
Militia, and was made lieutenant in the 215th Regiment in 



CLARENDON BOYS. 301 

1840. He taught school in Western New York in 1840, 
1841 and 1842 ; commenced the study of law with Gov- 
ernor Henry R. Selden in 1842 ; came to Wisconsin, 1845 ; 
admitted to practice law, 1845. Since coming to Wisconsin 
he held the following positions, etc., to wit : District attor- 
ney, county judge, member of convention to frame the 
constitution for the State of Wisconsin, court commis- 
sioner, colonel of the 14tli Regiment Wisconsin State 
Militia, brigadier-general of Wisconsin State Militia, mem- 
ber of assembly in state legislature, state senator, member 
of court of impeachment for trial of Judge Hubbell, 
lieutenant-governor, served as governor in 1855 during 
absence of governor from state, declined nomination for 
assembly in 1859, was secretary of state in 1862 and 1863, 
acted as governor during extra session of legislature in 
1862 (there being no governor or lieutenant-governor in the 
state), regent of State University during 1862 and 1863, 
governor in 1864 and 1865, degree of L. L. D. conferred 
on J. T. Lewis by Lawrence University in 1864, declined 
nomination for governor in 1865 (see resolutions of State 
Convention, September, 1865), declined appointment as 
foreign minister in 1865, declined appointment as regent 
State University in 1866, chosen vice-president State His- 
torical Society in 1868, visited Europe during French and 
German war in 1870, appointed school commissioner of 
City of Columbus in 1874, elected delegate to National 
Convention to nominate president, etc., in 1876, declined 
appointment as commissioner of internal revenue tendered 
by president in 1876, declined appointment as railroad 
commissioner for State of Wisconsin in 1878, went around 
the world in 1882 and 1883. 

This record, as it appears, was furnished the author by 
ex-Governor James T. Lewis, who married Orlina, the 
daughter of David Sturges, in Clarendon, in 1847, after 
moving to Wisconsin. The governor had at one time 



302 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

nearly all the territory on which Columbus, Wisconsin, was 
located, and in 1866 he owned a section of land, six hun- 
dred and forty acres, just outside the limits of this city, 
where he made his home. 

When he first taught school in Clarendon village he 
slept in a log-house, up in the garret, where he could look 
out of the roof and count the stars as they twinkled over 
him, and in the morning brush the snow from the quilts 
above him. He was universally respected by his scholars, 
having that open, kind and generous nature that was 
superior to petty tyranny. He was member of a court- 
martial at Sandy Creek, and some of those now living will 
call to mind the scene which occurred upon the fining of a 
certain soldier-boy who failed to put in an appearance as 
the law commanded. The governor stands nearly six feet 
in his stockings, weighing over two hundred avoirdupois, 
his hair originally as black as a raven's wing, features good, 
with a clear, dark eye, and a smile that plays as sunshine 
over the face. He would attract the attention of all ob- 
servers, whether in city or country, by that perfect ease and 
grace which seem to be a portion of his being, and the rich 
tones of his voice ever please the ear. Having a natural 
modesty, he was willing to take the lowest seat, and waited 
in Wisconsin, when the country was unsettled, for the 
residents and incoming people to ask him to come up 
higher until he held the honored seat in the chair of 
state. 

During the Rebellion no official did more than James T. 
Lewis for the raising of troops, hurrying them to the front, 
providing for their comfort by establishing a " Soldier's 
Home," and using all his powers to build up not only the 
interests of Wisconsin, but through her the nation at large. 
Every school-boy who has read in his reader of the gallant 
8th WisconsiQ Regiment will remember the old eagle and 
what this same Governor Lewis did at the presentation to 



CLARENDON BOYS. 303 

the state in Madison, 1865. Governor Lewis, at the age of 
sixty-nine, is now enjoying the peace and happiness which 
arises from a Ufe spent not for self, but for his state and 
country, and he is universally loved both at home and 
abroad. 

Luther Peck, when a boy, lived with his father, Linus 
Peck, on the Byron road, near the spot now occupied by 
Newton Orcutt. One day, while chopping trees in the 
woods just back of where the Robinson school-house stands, 
he was nearly scalped by the falling of one of these chil- 
dren of the forest, and, throwing down his axe, he swore 
that he would no longer hack and hew timber, but at once 
fit himself by study and teaching to cut his way through 
remainders, reversions and all other estates, leaving the 
tail to go with the hide, in Blackstone, Coke and Chitty. 
If Judge Far well and Joseph Sturges were now on deck we 
could give many pleasing anecdotes connected with this 
young aspirant after legal honors, but they are not to be 
called, even by the whistle of opportunity or the cry of 
memory. 

He had charge, for a number of years, of Joseph Sturges' 
accounts, and in those log-cabin days made diligent inquiry 
after those who were in arrears. The position of justice 
was very trying then, as he was often called upon to issue 
papers on the spur of the moment, as settlers were liable 
to leave between the night and morning and flee into the 
wilderness, without leave, license or notice, forgetting to 
pay their honest debts. This brought Luther Peck to the 
front, and Joseph Sturges found in him one who, when he 
took hold, held on like a bull-dog, seldom letting go until 
he secured the pound of flesh or the bond. He would, as 
we have shown, teach schools in the winter and then attend 
to business in the summer, employing all his spare time to 
fit himself for the profession he had chosen. Before the 
death of Joseph Sturges, in 1829, he had removed to Pike, 



304 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

which is uow in Wyoming county, and then began the 
regular study of the law. He improved every hour in 
study and preparation, and when he was admitted to the 
bar, he was fully armed to fight the battles of any court in 
the state with any lawyer who wished to meet him in legal 
warfare. 

George Matson is one of the most prominent business 
men of Indianapolis, and Andrew Knickerbocker, who 
lately died in Saratoga, was a miller's lad in Clarendon, but 
in Saratoga the chief manager of the Grand Union Hotel, 
and was known from one end of the traveling world to the 
other as one of the most genial, affable and polite of all 
gentlemen, and whose place is very hard to fill. 

Where now Abram H. Bartlett drives his team afield, 
many years since Joseph F. Glidden, when a lad, did 
the chores for his father, David Glidden, and all other work 
peculiar to that early day. Having a mind that loved to 
see other lands, he emigrated to Illinois, and is now living 
at De Kialb City. He had not been long in that prairie 
country before he felt the lack of timber in the building of 
fences, and in his brain made a fence of wire, barbed in 
such a manner that the stock would not go through, or care 
to after they had once felt its pricks. . This invention of 
Glidden has been scattered all over the great west, and is 
now forcing itself into the farthest limits of the east. He 
has for a number of years derived a very large income from 
this patent, and should he return to Clarendon now, he 
could buy the most of the Byron road on which he resided 
when a poor farmer's boy. 

Jirah Hopkins was born in the old frame house which 
Abner Hopkins, his father, built, about 1817, on the Barre 
road. He only remained in Clarendon during his boyhood 
days, and then went west, and for some time was a hotel 
proprietor in Galesburg, Illinois. After he had accumu- 
lated a good fortune, he concluded to take a trip around 



CLA.RENDON BOYS. 305 

this world, which he did, via San Francisco, China, India 
and Europe. When he returned he found the expense so 
much lighter than he expected that he engaged passage, and 
made his second journey from sun-rising to sun-setting on 
both continents. Always jolly, hearty, and possessed of 
fine appearance, both physically and mentally, he must have 
been a general favorite, whether on deck in the Indian, 
chatting on the Pacific, or rolling up and down the murky 
Atlantic. Abner, his brother, was for many years in the 
railroad business, acting as conductor, and showing how 
well a Clarendon lad can look after the interests of the 
traveling public. 

Darwin M. Inman for years lived on the old Hopkins 
homestead, and after teaching one of the best schools 
that Clarendon has known, has finally settled down 
in Vermillion, Dakota, where he can look over his banking 
business. He was elected a member of the Dakota terri- 
torial legislature, and filled the seat with ability. He grad- 
uated at the Rochester University, under Dr. Anderson, 
and was considered a good student. Darwin has lands in 
difierent portions of the west, and is just as ready to specu- 
late in lands or politics as a hungry boy is to eat his dinner 
when it is before him. 

Away back in our school days we distinctly remember 
Pratt Nelson, son of John Nelson, on the Holley road, who 
was one of the best mathematicians that Orleans county 
ever knew, when he was only fourteen. An example that 
his clear mind could not look through must have been like 
the labyrinth of ancient fable, with so many windings 
that one was quite certain to stray away from the right 
path. The author had now and then a scramble outside 
the entry with Pratt, when he would feel his fist just above 
his nose, and once in awhile he rounded or caromed on Pratt's 
proboscis. He remained in Corning, Iowa, until his dem- 
ocratic proclivities forced him to seek other quarters, more 



306 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

congenial to his native independence of thoughtand action, 
and to-day he may be found behind the casliier's desk in 
Edgar, Nebraska. 

Corning, in the southern portion of Iowa, daily, when pres- 
ent, looks upon the countenance of Lewis Darrow, who 
once made the stone school-house in Clarendon famous for 
his knowledge of Euclid. Not one of the nine books but 
he had at the end of his pointer, as Hammond discovered 
the day we all made West Sweden understand of what stuflP 
Clarendon boys were composed. To Lewis figures were a 
delight, and he unraveled their mysteries as a woman would 
a spool of thread. For a time he was corresponding clerk 
in a large commission house in New York, but finally took 
up his abode in the place above mentioned, where he can 
handle crisp new bills, and look after securities and stock. 

Charles J. Sturges saw the light for the first time in the 
David Sturges brick-house, and was born only a short time 
before his father died, as we have stated, from cancer. 
Charley was full of humor, always loved a pleasant joke, and 
was a general favorite with all the boys. Now he is en- 
gaged, as he has been for years, in the large establishment 
of Proctor & Gamble, in Chicago, and must thoroughly 
understand the nature of fats, and the properties of soap 
generally. 

Who has not heard of the great Washburn Mills at Min- 
neapolis ? Within their walls you may find Charles J. 
Martin, one of the best boys that Clarendon ever raised. 
Perfectly unassuming in his nature, as modest as a lovely 
woman, he has down deep in his heart of hearts a mine of 
wealth, both in love and knowledge. In the stone school- 
house no other lad was his superior with the chalk, and 
when we listened to his recitation of the Frenchman and 
the rats, we all felt that the bread and cheese were hardly 
worth " fe7i shela7igs." For years he was the private clerk 
of Governor -Lewis at Madison, and was esteemed by all 



(JLAKKNDON BOYS. 



307 



who knew him. And now he occupies liis chair in one of 
the greatest milling houses, not only in Minneapolis, but in 
the world. Truly Clarendon can be proud of the day when, 
on the Byron road, Dan Martin saw the eyes of this lad 
greet him with a smile, and every fence on the road, and 
all the old landmarks, would rejoice to tell how they looked 
upon him as he passed them by. 

A short distance below Charley's home once lived. Frank 
Coy, who attended school for some time in what was then 
called the Caryville Seminary, at Caryville, in Genesee 
County. Frank secured a fine position as bookkeeper in 
the firm of R. E. Page & Co , on Clark street, Chicago, 
who were noted confectioners before the great fire. He 
married Page's sister, but his health failed, consumption 
laid its pale hand upon his brow, and he passed away. He 
was a noble, generous soul, who knew his friends as well in 
Chicago as in the quiet streets of Clarendon. 

On the Wyman road, at the foot of the hill, below Rich- 
ard Babbage, Zina Richey, the son of John Richey, who 
now rests from his labors in Holley, first rambled as a bare- 
footed boy, with New Guinea and Tonawanda a short dis- 
tance away. Perhaps he has forgotten the day when he 
saw a big bon- or barn-fire just across from the old house, 
but we dare say its burning rafters could be painted even 
now if he had the genius of Salvator Rosa. Yankton, 
Dakota, is proud of his hardware establishment, and we 
can safely say that Zina is as wide-awake and ready for 
business as any other of its enterprising citizens. 

Jules Andrus left Clarendon years ago, and became a 
noted sheep-grower in New Mexico and Colorado. The 
city of Cherryvale, Kansas, has now an addition called the 
" Andrus," and year after year streets are being tilled up in 
his block, showing the wisdom of his purchase. As one of his 
neighbors, Frank Turner now fits out the jay-hawkers with 
harness and trimmings, on a more extended scale than he 



308 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

did in Clarendon. Frank Wyman, in the same city, attends 
to business, and no longer holds the plow on the old home- 
stead on the Wyman road. Sam Wyman is in the lumber 
business of Michigan, 

In the streets of Topeka, Kansas, James A. Soles dis- 
poses of his merchandise, and has not forgotten the eastern 
sun when it shone upon him on the Tousley road, or at the 
brown school-house. 

In the store of George M. Copeland, in Clarendon, Wil- 
liam Milliken was taught his first lessons as a merchant, 
and when in Rochester, under Burke, Fitzsimons, Hone & 
Co., he was justly considered one of their most favored em- 
ployees. Always pleasant and genial to his customers, he 
carried with him that esteem and appreciation which was 
greatly missed when consumption removed him from busi- 
ness to the silent shades. 

In the old turning-shop of Philip Preston, on Preston 
street, Willis Whipple loved to work, and we well remember 
the little saw-mill which he rigged up in his boyhood days, 
when out of school. Now he is a No. 1 miller in a large 
flouring-house in Reed city, Michigan, and the Wolverine 
State may be certain that he knows the quality of her 
wheat and the kind of flour she can roll through. 

The growing City of Hornellsville has few merchants who 
have the push of Henry A. Pratt, as all his old scholars 
"would be pleased to know. Vermillion, Dakota, echoes to 
the tread of Martin Lewis, and his voice may be heard in 
her busy streets when traders congregate. Fred H. Stevens, 
who once loved the shade of Honest Hill, may be found in 
the wholesale cap and fur business, with Dempster & Co., 
in the great metropolitan city of Chicago. Occasionally he 
loves to take a run down into old Clarendon, but the west- 
ern world soon hies him away, and the demands of business 
require his attention and native energy. 

In the railroad's busy traffic for thirty years has George 



CLARENDON BOYS. 309 

Ford traveled, passing over the iron and steel rails between 
Rochester and Niagara Falls until he can, as baggage- 
master and employee, foot up 1,500,000 miles of transit, or 
sixty times the distance around this ball upon which we 
whirl. He is drawn daily through the week (except Sun- 
days) by that Nestor of engineers, Albert Nash, who handles 
the throttle like a chief on the " City of New York." He 
has never met with an accident, and when he retires safe 
and sound the Vanderbilts should grant him a pension. On 
South St. Paul street, Rochester, busy at job printing, is 
Augustus M. St. John, and he can rejoice that his practice 
under Hadley taught him to be quick of foot, and his 
education at Perry gave him an opportunity to show his 
ability in the beautiful Flower City. Albany had for a num- 
ber of years in her midst a first-class printer, who, when a 
lad, loved to fire ofi" a cannon with the author, to show how 
patriotic he was, until one fine day it burst and came very 
near taking the heads off the gunners with the pieces. In 
the capital city of the Empire State he was well known, but 
Death walked into his sanctum and the types of this life 
were all laid away in the forms of the tomb. Good-by, 
George Riggs, for the present, we may be able to compose 
for you on the other side ! 

Hard at work in the professor's chair in the University of 
Dakota, at Vermillion, may be seen during the term Lewis 
Akeley, who received his diploma at the Rochester Univer- 
sity and took one of the first prizes in scholarship. He is 
a rising young man, and if God gives him health he may 
yet stand at the head of some noted western college. Edwin 
Matson, of the Matson road, is yearly in Texas, pushing 
his way to the highest seat as an instructor, full of courage, 
hope, ability and Clarendon sand. 

In the list of composers we may mention John Mills, who 
had true original genius, and could he have had the advan- 
tage of a foreign education, or lived until this day under 



310 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the tutorage of some American master, he would have made 
Clarendon the echo of sweet song in other lands. But tlie 
silver chord was soon loosed, the golden bowl rudely 
broken and all the earthly strings of his musical soul 
snapped asunder by cruel death. Now and then Joseph 
Salsbury touches the notes of harmony in his native town, 
but his skill, like some sweet birds' song, enters the cham- 
bers of the soul for a moment and then — is gone. Strange 
that no language can impart the force of those chains 
'Mhat bind the hidden soul of harmony!" John M. 
Wetherbee, born on the Millard road, was known for long 
years in the Copeland store. When the war asked for 
volunteers, and many hesitated, he stepped forward and 
said : " My life is no better than that of others," and 
moved at once into the ranks in defense of his country. 
He was terribly wounded, suffered amputation and came 
home, where, for a time, he was one of the proprietors in 
the Copeland store. Afterward he was made member of 
assembly, but his health could not stand the pressure, and 
all that the climate of South Carolina or California could 
do proved unavailing, and he went through the gates that 
never again open. His character was as clear as a sapphire 
highly polished, and his heart was as true to his friends as 
the needle to the pole. The winds of Clarendon mourned 
over his departure, and the hearts of many shed tears of 
love when his body was laid away. 

In a double log-house on the Byron road was once the 
smiling face of Henry C. Lewis, who died at Coldwater, in 
the State of Michigan, 1886. His father, William Lewis, 
was the first sheriff of Orleans county, in 1825. Henry C. 
Lewis, when he bade this world farewell, left behind him 
his magnificent art gallery of paintings and statuary, 
valued at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, as a be- 
quest to the State University at Ann Arbor. Think of the 
genius and art love of such a log-cabin boy in the woods of 



CLARENDON BOYS. 311 

Clarendon. No wonder his name was typed from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific — from Maine to Texas ! 

Joseph Thompson, born of humble parentage in the 
village of Clarendon, has, on the stage of thought and 
action, made his native town noted in the temperance 
cause. Among the ministers who have gone out to labor 
in the cause of the Master we can mention Edward J. Cook, 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who has done all in his 
power, not only to labor in the pulpit, but also to erect 
houses of worship where Christians might assemble to hear 
the Word. Out of the Copeland home have stepped forth 
J. Alden, R. Watson, Benjamin and Arthur Copeland. J. 
Alden Copeland has filled the Methodist Episcopal Church 
at Eochester, Bradford, Avon, Warsaw, Brockport, Friend- 
ship and Scottsville in the east, and Boonesboro, Webster 
City and Sioux City in the west, while in the temperance 
cause he has spent years, not only in founding the great 
St. John circuit, but in camps, churches and halls battled 
like a soldier against King Alcohol. 

R. Watson Copeland has held services in the Methodist 
Episcopal churches of Attica, Niagara Falls, Holley, Otis- 
ville, Lafayette and Nunda, assisting also in the St. John 
circuit to spread the truth abroad. Benjamin Copeland, of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, has been listened to on 
Glen wood avenue, Buffalo, at Limestone and Bradford, and 
is at present the pastor of the Richmond Avenue, Buffalo. 
Arthur Copeland at first was stationed at the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of Cato, then transferred to the First 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Auburn, at twenty-seven 
years of age, and was the pastor of Trinity Methodist Epis- 
copal Church of the same city, and now of Clyde, New 
York. 

J. Alden Copeland was a student at the Genesee College, 
now of Rochester; R. Watson Copeland a graduate of Syra- 
cuse University and Boston Theological, and Benjamin 



312 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Oopeland a student at Lima aud Hobart Colleges, while 
Arthur Copeland was a graduate of the Syracuse Univer- 
sity, from Lima and Oazenovia Seminaries. 

In the political field, Horatio Reed was member of assem- 
bly in 1838, and George M. Oopeland in 1852, and was de- 
feated for state senator by Dan Cole in 1874. Colonel N. 
E. Darrow represented Orleans in assembly in 1861, John 
M. Wetherbee in 1872. Sullivan Howard sheriff of Orleans 
in 1883. 

Prominent to-day stands John N. Beckley, who was, in 
1866, a teacher in the Cook school, and, when admitted to 
the bar, first practiced in Batavia, and then moved into 
Rochester, where he was made city attorney by the Demo- 
crats, a position which he held with marked ability from 
1882 to 1886, and was called upon by the press to still hold 
the office, but declined, and now constitutes one of the firm 
of Briggs, Bacon & Beckley, a very strong trio, that few of 
the legal fraternity desire to meet. Beckley was also a 
student at Lima, and was well known as possessing a mind 
far superior to the crowd that buzzed about him, which 
his after-life has fully demonstrated ; and Rochester has 
not for many years had a city attorney who could give forth 
clearer opinions, and sounder judgment, based upon the 
law, and his own native ability. 

David N. Salsbury is now engaged in a busy law practice 
in Rochester, having at first tried his hand in Albion, with 
Charles A. Keeler. He has risen steadily since entering the 
profession, and is ready to meet any Rochester counselor in 
the field of action. 

Andrew J. Harwick was for a short time associated with 
John Cuneen in cases in Albion, and has, since his removal 
to Penn Yan, been district attorney for Yates county, in 
this state. 

John Andrus, son of Elam T. Andrus, of the Byron 
road, is a well-known lawyer in Ashton, Illinois. 



CLARENDON BOYS. 313 

Zachary Taylor, son of Mortimer Taylor, on the Taylor 
road, has been one of the Flower City teachers, principal 
of Free Academy, and graduate of Rochester University, 
and is at present building up a good law practice in that city. 

Calvin W. Patterson, the son of Calvin C. Patterson, of 
the Matson road, is now at the head of the Brooklyn schools, 
and has himself been the author of text-books. His 
brother Marion is well known in Northern Kansas. 

W. A. Swan is a heavy real estate agent at Pittsburgh, 
Kansas, the great coal and manufacturing center for the 
southeastern portion of that state. 

Gustavus St. John may be found, full of business, at 
Pultney, on Keuka Lake, and is deeply interested in the 
temperance work. 

Eddie Pettengill, son of T. E. G. Pettengill, had for 
years a fine drug-store in Washington, D. C. True E. G. 
Pettengill, during different Republican administrations, 
was auditor in the department at Washington, and is now 
very busy in handling patent cases in that city. 

Frank B. Hood was a fine student while in Clarendon, 
and has followed the profession of teaching since his re- 
moval to Iowa. 

Clarence Akely, son of Webb Akely, on the Matson road, 
when only a lad evinced a deep love for the study of ornith- 
ology, and his house at home was the receiver of many 
birds which he stuffed. From Clarendon he took his sta- 
tion at Ward's, in Rochester, and was the taxidermist to 
put up and fill out Jumbo's skin, also the baby elephant, 
and is to-day in the cream-colored City of Milwaukee, doing 
ornamental work in his favorite pursuit. 

Tracey Robinson, whom we have mentioned, many years 
floated the stars and stripes over the consulate office at As- 
pinwall, on the Isthmus of Panama. 

Pratt Butterfield, who was once a school-boy at Bennett's 
Corners, is a prominent business man in Chicago. 
14 



314 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Herman Southworth is in business at Binghamton, 
N. Y. 

Ogden S. Miller, in his school-days, was one of the 
brightest figurers that any town could show up, and to-day 
he is one of the leading spirits in the manufacturing inter- 
ests at Holley. John Downs, from a poor drover's boy, 
has become a banker in Holley, and is one of the best- 
known stock and wool buyers in New York State. Frank 
Bennett, son of Isaac Bennett, is a first-class grocer in 
Holley. Robert Milliken, who attended school at the Hood 
school-house, is one of Holley's most enterprising grocers. 
In Lock wood's dry goods establishment is John Richey, 
active in trade, and who was a scholar under the author, at 
the Robinson in 1866-7. 

John Church has been many years station-master at Jef- 
ferson City, Mo. 

Albert 'I'urner is now the chief hardware merchant of 
Elba, or Pine Hill, as it is generally called. Day Wilcox, 
one of the author's scholars, is a leading druggist in Elba. 

Harvey Brown, of Columbus, Wisconsin, has for many 
years been a merchant and postmaster of that fine town. 

True Matson for a time did an extensive hardware busi- 
ness in Unionville, and has now one of the best stores of 
this character in Holley. 

Dan. Glidden is a moving power in the life of 8ioux 
Falls, and has the same push and energy that he possessed 
when in Clarendon. 

Abram L. Salsbury has opened up, as it were, a new 
street in Holley, and, in connection with his park and other 
improvements, is doing all in his power to boom Holley. 

Shepherd Foster is one of Miller & Pettengill's most 
trusted employees, and is deserving of much praise. He 
has a fine home in Holley. 

Abner Merrill was a cadet at West Point, and is now a 
lieutenant in the regular service of the U. S. A. Norton 



CLARENDON BOYS. 315 

Merrill is a fine young business man in Chicago. Harmon 
Salsburj attends court at Alexandria, Virginia. 

If we have omitted any names, the reader will please 
ascribe the same to ignorance, and not to desire. Here 
they are, a grand galaxy of mental and moral stars, and 
all from beneath the same blue canopy that looks so peace- 
fully to-day upon their loved Clarendon. 



316 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEE XYIII. 



CLARENDON GIRLS. 



IT is the nature of woman, with rare exceptions, to be 
modest and retiring, retreating from the rude and 
boisterous paths of life into that quiet and peaceable seclu- 
sion which the home naturally enshrines. While man him- 
self is busily plotting, scheming, directing, advising, con- 
trolling, commanding and pushing, woman in tlie house- 
hold may be attending to domestic cares, training the child 
for its steps upon this great stage of life, and, unknown to 
the outside world, stamping upon the mind impressions 
and ideas that no after-years of toil, hurry, strife, prosper- 
ity or adversity can ever efface. Man's written history is 
the observation either of himself or others, or the recollec- 
tions and traditions which Time hands down to her chil- 
dren, true or false. Woman's history is seldom written, 
save in heaven, or in the hearts who have loved her. 

On the Holley road, in 1851, at the house of Hiram Jos- 
lyn could be seen a girl who made the atmosphere of home 
to smile with her presence. Almyra Baldwin from this 
place was in the habit of going to school at the stone 
school-house in Clarendon village, carrying with her the 
affection of all who knew her. Now she has left this life, 
to enjoy the happiness and blessings of that other. 

Out of the Church mansion came Almira and Adelaide 
Church, the former the wife of a Universalist minister, and 
the latter with her fine family in Dakota. Adelaide was 
one who had the same pleasant countenance at every hour 
in the day, and a heart that affection made endearing to all. 



317 



CLARENDON GIRLS. 



Mary Ann Cook was bubbling over with humor, as cheei 
f ul as some bird that, singing, rises toward Heaven's gate. 
Now she breathes the pure air of Minnesota, and her life is 
a joy to those who know her. 

Cynthia A. Copeland of Nyack, has been for years the wife 
of a Methodist minister, and is deeply interested in the Home 
Missionary work. Her name appears as one of the teachers 
at Bennett's Corners in 1859, and she also taught in Claren- 
don and Holley, beloved by all her scholars. She was a 
graduate of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima. 

Harriet Darrow was in Wilson's History with the author, 
and we then had some vague idea of the Northmen, which 
after years have made much more satisfactory. Harriet is 
one of the leading spirits in church work, and in the cause 
of temperance she ever takes a willing part. 

Ellen, the sister of Gertrude Farwell, ever had a sunny 
look, that was certain to dispel melancholy, and when she 
took her place in the class understood the lessons before 
her. She is now pleasantly located in Marion, this state, 
with love strewing her pathway with sweets. 

We cannot forget Theresa Farwell, with her head covered 
with curls, and eyes that ever shone as stars. She was a 
beautiful girl, that made the school-room to glow with her 
presence. 

Full of jollity was Alcy Glidden, and when she opened 
the door pale care flew out of the window. Alcy became a 
teacher in Clarendon, and the boys and girls have her treas- 
ured in their memories. 

Sophronia Glidden has not forgotten the grammar class 
on the back seat, and how Henry Pratt took pains to say> 
^^Consequently, third person"—. But those parsing days 
have gone, Sophronia, forever, and you can mow hear your 
own daughter tell how she conjugates or gives numbers to 
her scholars. When we were striving for a prize, Sarah 
Glidden was sure to be very close, if not just ahead, and we 



318 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

watched her with anxious eyes. But this good girl has 
gone up higher, in a better school than this world can 
supply. 

Can we forget Emily Grinnell? Not when we call back 
her bright eyes and healthy cheeks, with lips that reminded 
us of some Crawford peach. And the lads and lassies recol- 
lect the evening parties of those days, when the mail sleigh 
was brought into use to carry the jolly load. 

On Albion street lived Jane and Janette Preston, who 
came side by side to school. Where are they now ? Gone 
through the ivory gates of this life, to enter the pearly ones 
beyond. 

Lydia Patterson little thought, when she was a student 
in old Clarendon, that the City of Locks would be her 
home in the future, and she the wife of an M. D. 

Away to Montreal did Nancy Tousley go when she said 
^'good-by" to her native town, and her mind and heart 
found center in the queen's dominions. 

In the winter-time, what girl came into Wm. E. French's 
school with rosier cheeks than Emma Cook ? Lively, happy, 
and good-natured; after much suffering, she has gone to 
that better land that knows no pain. 

Kate Button — does she have the same sweet smile that 
she had when a school-girl ? The old Ridge road at Ladd's 
Corners will no doubt whisper " Yes," if we could only hear 
the echo. 

Can anyone forget Leonora Lewis ? If Clarendon ever 
had a girl as full of fun as she, we would like to have that 
one called out. She was as sharp as a double-edged knife, 
and her wit cut like a razor. 

Georgette Mansfield has now become a chief actor in the 
cause of prohibition, and she masters the children as Na- 
poleon would his soldiers. 

Mary Potter was always a lover of sweet songs, and to- 



CLARENDON GIRLS. 319 

day her dear husband can rejoice, under the smile of Presi- 
dent Cleveland, in Albion. 

Years ago Amorette South worth moved into Rochester, 
but the light of her countenance has not been forgotten by 
those who knew her only to love. 

Sarah Willoughby has been one of Clarendon's most 
noted music-teachers. She gave lessons at sixteen years of 
age. Mary Potter was her first pupil in the old Far well 
mansion. She taught until 1865, and then in northern 
New York until 1876, when she returned to Clarendon, and 
is still before the sweet instruments of melody as an in- 
structor. 

Emma Luce, now of Spencerport, is a very fine teacher 
of music, and she travels from home into Byron to give her 
scholars the benefit of her knowledge and sweet voice. 

Emma V. Riggs is a teacher in the Mohawk Valley. 

Sarah V. Richey, one of the author's scholars, is now a 
teacher in Nebraska, where she has taught for eight years 
with the best of success. 

Mary Culver, who once gave lessons in penmanship, has 
become interested in banking and insurance in Peoria, Illi- 
nois, and is the owner of lands in Kansas and Minnesota. 

Irene Glidden, now of Holley, is possessed of true genius 
as an artist, and her oil-paintings are worthy of much 
praise. 

Among the teachers who have taught since 1856, we take 
great pleasure in noticing those whom we have known in 
different portions of the town : 

Elizabeth V. Keeler, Louise J. Howard, Eva Elliott. 

Julia Glidden, Frances Foster, Luetta Cook, 

Pamelia Glidden, Mary E. Garrison, Sarah Cook, 

Lydia A. Glidden, Julia M.Orr, Ella Wetherbee, 

Elmira Baldwin, Sarah Milliken, Annie Emery, 

Mary J. Root, Alfrida Albert, Nora Wilcox, 

Sarah Glidden, Alcy Glidden, Julia Hughes, 

Frances Carpenter, Alice Peck, Jennie Cowles, 

Sabrina Glidden, Mary E. Wilcox, Mamie Morgan, 

Elizabeth M. Stevens, Sarah Richey, Anna Potter, 



320 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Harriet Darrow, Estelle Benliam, Lillian Beck, 

Mary J. Gibson, Alice Blanchard, Mary McKeon, 

Addie Peggs, Amelia Stuckey, Sarah Rodwell, 

Julina M. Wyman, Emma Glidden, Lucy Boots, 

Electa S. Glidden, Martha Hardenbrook, Julia Crossett, 

Thirza Stuckey, Martha Wetherbee, Jennie Jones, 

Mury E. Wilcox, Ettie M. Turner, Hattie Barber, 

Ella Housel, Cora Andrus, Hattie Milliken, 

Alice S. Crannell, Julia Sackett, Viola Williams, 

Mary French, Frank McAllister, Bessie Cook, 

All of whom, with one or two exceptions, are girls born in 
Clarendon, and who have reflected credit, honor and praise, 
not only upon themselves, but have been loved by their 
scholars, and respected by the patrons of the several dis- 
tricts in which they taught. 

When " Widow Bedott " was on the boards at our school 
exhibitions, we always smiled when Libbie Keeler was the 
" Widow," and Theresa North her daughter. 

The girls at Clarendon will remember that sweet song 
which William E. French had them sing to the words — 

" Welcome, welcome, quiet morning," 
And how many since that day have learned the meaning of 
those words — 

" Vain the wish, the care, the labor, 
Earth's poor trifles to possess ; 
Love to God, and to our neighbor, 
Only makes true happiness." 

When did the Clarendon girls ever look better than under 
sun-bonnets, some as white as the driven snow, and others 
as pink as a Lady Washington geranium. The girls had 
their lessons more perfect than the boys, and this rule ap- 
plies generally. At the blackboard, Adelaide Church, Ja- 
nette Preston, Alcy Glidden, Lydia Patterson, Nancy Tous- 
ley, Mary Potter, Sabrina G-lidden, Laura and Sarah Maria 
Darrow were some of the best under William E. French. 
Li grammar, Harriet Darrow, Sarah Glidden, Adelaide 
Church, Lydia Patterson, Cynthia A. Copeland, Mary Ann 



CLARENDON GIRLS. 321 

Cook and Cornelia Jenkins carried away the palms. As 
leading scholars under Clara B. Newman, we name : — 

Gertrude Farwell, Jane Jolmson, Mary Potter, 

Ellen Farwell, Adelaide Churcli, Jane Preston, 

Georgette Mansfield, Emily Grennell, Janette Preston, 

Nancy Ogden, Esther Grennell, Harriet Darrow, 

Emma Cook, Cynthia A. Copeland, Caroline Jenkins. 

Mary Dutton, Nancy Tousley, 

When the two weeks came for compositions, how fine 
these girls would apjDcar in their dresses as white as some 
cloud in the sky above the blue Indian Ocean, with their 
papers on every topic of the day neatly tied with a pink, 
blue or orange ribbon, and we in our seats wondering who 
the writers were that chronicled the future happy state of 
some loving school-boy and girl ; for we all had owr girls, and 
the girls all had their boys, whether the fact was admitted 
by the lips, or the blush of the countenance, or the careful 
watching of somebody's coming when absent. 

Can the old boys forget Clara King, with her sweet face, 
that we loved to look at in the school-room, or whose voice . 
was very musical when on our sled called the '* Tele- 
graph " ? She has disappeared from this world as some 
beautiful song that lives only in memory. Nettie Bryan 
will never forget the day that she left the tyranny of Beadle 
for the other room, and how anxious we were to follow suit, 
but failed to do so. 

Thirza Stuckey well remembers the day when the present 
postmaster of Holley pounded the author with a large 
ruler six times on each hand to make him squeal, when 
he knew that we had not hardened our palms for the occa- 
sion. This kind of tyranny would have put on the thumb- 
screw, boot, rack, pillory or even the fire-brands, for con- 
science sake! Once upon a time the boys had made up 
their minds to go up to the Christian Church to a school 
exhibition, and for some reason left the girls behind. 
Alcy and Sophronia Glidden went home, told Darius of 



322 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the situation, and together they soon hitched up the nags 
on the old sleigh, drove up to the village in good style, 
called upon the girls, and the lads were astonished to see 
them come in to the show as independent as Madame De 
Stael. 

When the stone school-house was to be trimmed for the 
last day, how glad the boys were to go up to old Tona- 
wanda, a whole load, with a dashing team, cut their ever- 
greens in the snowy shades and grand silence of the 
swamp, and then swing up in front of the entry-door, haul 
into both rooms, while the jolly, pretty girls would be 
scattered from the back seats to the front, ready to make 
wreaths and trim the walls in perfect taste and beauty. 
No wonder we feel like dropping a tear upon the page 
when we once more walk down memory's patiiway into 
those happy aisles and hear the same sweet voices we once 
loved, and hold converse with eyes that gladdened at our 
coming. 

Do the girls forget the picnics in Copeland's Grove or 
(Jhurch's Woods ? The long tables under the magnificent 
temple of shade, loaded down with chicken, roast meats of 
different kinds, biscuits made by their own hands, bread 
which they had kneaded, sponge cake, fruit cake, frost cake 
of every kind, which they had watched in the oven, honey 
from the hives at home, maple syrup and jellies, with 
sauces, all kinds of Orleans county pies, that the world 
can not excel, with the bustle and hurry of getting a good 
seat at the feast, and then eating until we felt as if we 
would like to have some one come near and carry us away 
for a season to take a rest. 

Then the swings, sometimes with poles reaching from 
one tree to the other, where they could go so high that 
they almost gasped for breath. Does Clarendon no2v have 
these days as we did every year in all its districts? Why 
not ? We are too nice and stylish now to indulge in 



CLARENDON GIRLS. 323 

such native simplicity and genuine happiness ; too much 
afraid of fun or a deep hearty laugh; bound up in bands 
that would burst if we dared to make the attempt. 

It is recorded that on the Wyman road, at one time, a 
certain couple got married, and the boys not turning out 
to horn the happy pair, the girls thought they would not 
allow the occasion to pass without remembering this 
time-honored custom. Accordingly, they robed their lovely 
forms in the robes of their dear brothers, and gaily as 
troubadors, marched up to open their entertainment. While 
they were imitating the green corn dance of the Tona- 
wanda's, who should appear in the darkness but David 
Forbush, who squealed out, " Hold on there, boys, Fll go 
and get some more in New Guinea, and we'll have fun!" 
The girls, when he disappeared over Babbage's Hill, con- 
cluded to 'Wamoose the ranch," which they did without 
further ceremony. 

According to William Glidden, the best-looking girl in 
all Clarendon when he was a boy was Sarah Sweet, daugh- 
ter of Noah Sweet. In saying this, Glidden must have 
been very impartial, for the girl he married, Lucinda Cox, 
was very pleasant to look upon, and Clarendon has seldom 
seen a sweeter face than her own. If we had one of the 
old school-rolls of Colonel N. E. Darrow we could give 
other names of girls that have made Clarendon noted in the 
eastern portion of the town. In the Cowles and Glidden 
districts the daughters of these families have generally ex- 
celled all others as they have taken their places upon the 
school-room floor. Not only in mentality were they supe- 
rior, but also in personal charms, such as modesty, polite- 
ness, grace and beauty. In the Root district, the Andros, 
Root, Cook and Barker girls stood first and foremost in all 
that makes girlhood beautiful. 

No other portion of Clarendon has raised up so many 
teachers, as the roll from 1856 to 1888 will show. In thus 



324 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

speaking* of the girls in these districts we also reflect upon 
the brains and beauty of the parents, for like begets like, 
and good blood always shows. When Irene Glidden was 
only twelve years of age she studied Kobinson's Elementary 
Algebra, and we have no knowledge of any other girl in 
Clarendon who can produce such a record. In the Cook 
district the Andrus, Stevens, Wilcox, Kichardson and Peck 
households furnished the girls that stood above all others 
in scholarship and personal appearance. The Robinson had 
the Wyman and Wilcox girls on the Wyman road, the 
Glidden girls on the Glidden road and on the Byron road 
the Robinson and Lewis of the early days, and the 
Richey, Albert, Merrill and Orcutt girls of a later date. 
Over at the Brown school-house the Knowles, Omans and 
Palmer daughters bore away the prize, and latterly the 
Snyder, Wyman, Wells, Boots and Housel maidens have 
been deserving of most praise. 

Where the Christian scholars thumbed their books in 
1838, we might mention the girls that came from the 
Pettengill, Salsbury, Inman, Bennett and Littlefield homes, 
as those most familiar to us, and up the years the Root, 
Keeler, Annis, Bryan and Wetherbee, whose names appear 
in the list of 1849. At Bennett's Corners, the Warren, 
Butterfield, French, Wadsworth, Pratt, Downs and Ben- 
nett were in former days the girl stars of that district. It 
is an old saying that comparisons are odious, and if we 
tread upon the feelings of any one individual we do so 
from our own knowledge of the Clarendon schools as they 
are at present, and we affirm that no other person has, dur- 
ing the writing of this history, taken more pains to visit 
the schools of Clarendon than the author, and we hold 
ourselves responsible for the opinions we give of the Clar- 
endon girls at present, which may aid some future historian 
in the compilation of his book. 

The old stone school-house may be proud of the Ridler, 



CLARENDON GIRLS. 325 

8alsbui7, Glidden, Preston, Turner, Bowen, Hess, Cook, 
Pettengill, Mathes, Maryott, Lee, McKeon, Murphy, Gillis, 
Mower, Lambert, Mead, Goldsmith, Gillman and Copeland 
girls, all of whom are naturally bright, intelligent and 
witty, possessing qualities that will in time develop beauti- 
ful women. If their teachers would only give them the 
same opportunities that have been given in composition 
and acting in the past, they would at once bring back the 
crowd who loved to attend exhibitions when No. 3 walked 
the stage. 

Bennett's Corners has some very promising scholars 
among the lassies, and Wadsworth, Lyman, Stuckey, Wil- 
liams, Warren, Ooy, Olmsted and Donnelly send out each 
term their daughters, whose eyes and fine appearance be- 
speak the wealth of brain within. 

The old red school-house, in the Glidden district, only 
has a few girls now, compared with the many which once 
attended here. These are the precious few : Elzie Hovey, 
Jennie Lusk, Edith and Blanche McOormick, Carrie and 
Eva Allen. We had the pleasure of hearing these little 
ones in anatomy and physiology of the heart, and they 
were most excellent. 

In the modest white Cowles school, Bertha Glidden and 
Belle Glidden, Edna Cowles, Bertha Lesso, Ella Munsie, 
Hattie Munsie, Cornie Laffler and Nellie Mack are the girls 
whose names we love to mention. 

At the Robinson, Hattie Goff, Minnie Goodenow, Adella 
Wyman, Belle and Dell Holt, Zella Tinsley, Gertie and 
Addie Cole make the school-room bright with their daily 
appearance. 

The Cook district is represented from the Cook, Cramer, 
Jones, Fuller and Stevens families by girls who are an honor 
to the whole town. 

When the Brown rings its little bell may be seen the 



326 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Bridgnian, Rollings, Fredericks, Soles and Housel maidens, 
full of life and energy. 

Manning, at the Christian church, has the Packard, Law- 
ton, Gaylord, Allen, Mower and Bailey daughters, who at- 
tract the attention of all who visit the school by their love 
of study and lady-like behavior. 

In the touching of the ivory keys we have had, in the 
past, Almyra Church, Nancy Tousley, Emma Sturges, Cyji- 
thia A. Copeland, Mary Potter and Cora Martin, who could 
make sweet music when Clarendon had only a few instru- 
ments. Now, Lena and Gertie Preston, Mabel Turner, 
Mabel Maryott, Mary McKeon, Maggie Murphy, Agnes 
Pettengill, Cora Mathes, Blanche Glidden, Hattie Elliott, 
Mina Darrow, Merna Salsbury, Edna Lawton and Hattie 
Goff are a few, whom we can now recall, who love to spend 
hours in this most delightful service. 

Clarendon has two devoted lovers of geology, Martha 
Evarts and Blanche Glidden. Their collections are fine 
and rare, and one can form a just idea of the rocky wealth 
of Clarendon by spending pleasant hours in their society. 

In the love of the beautiful in art we are happy to name 
Susie V. Riggs, Martha Evarts, Blanche Glidden, Mrs. N. 
H. Darrow, Mrs. Harley D. Munger, Mary Boots, Mrs. Dr. 
O'en, MrsBri. Libbie Albert and Mrs. Mary J. Pettengill, 
who admire the genius of the old masters, and would be 
charmed could they look upon the grand works of Titian, 
Angelo, Raphael or Murillo. 

In thus attempting to give the Clarendon girls that meed 
of praise they so richly deserve, we can only say that we 
deeply regret our own want of knowledge and ability to do 
them justice, and we trust that all who read this chapter 
will lay our errors, not at the door of the heart, but in the 
outer gateway of the mind, which has been so heavily 
blocked by lack of material, and the peculiar position in 
which the author has been placed. 



CLARENDON GIRLS. 327 

A.nd it is well known by all who have undertaken the task 
of writing the lives of women, that the knowledge of their acts 
must come from those who are not brought into rivalry with 
them ; and that the chaplet of praise is much dearer and 
sweeter as distance and time intervene. Perhaps the oppo- 
site sex is the best able to judge of the claims which the 
fair sex possesses, as they do not generally come into con- 
flict with them in the struggle of life, and, from the love 
we all bear our mothers, are ever ready to give our sisters, 
wherever we meet them, that gallant opinion which the 
days of chivalry so deeply inspired. But with us the cruel 
grave has blotted out names of which we cannot write, 
aud buried forever memories that we cannot know. 



328 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEE XIX. 



CHANGES. 



ALTHOUGrH Solomon has wisely said that "there is no 
new thing under the sun," yet every community has 
its hour and day of change from what we might call bar- 
barism, up to the highest civilization. And this change is 
gradual or rapid, in proportion to the intelligence of the 
people, and the abolition of that conservatism which is 
content to follow old customs and tread in the worn steps 
of the past. In this country the introduction into one 
town of improvements necessarily opens wide the door for 
a further advance in neighboring localities, and such is the 
genius of republican institutions, that the advent of new 
modes of labor, through the mighty influence of the press, 
and individual co-operation is nearly simultaneous. 

When Clarendon was first settled her inhabitants had 
only the actual necessities of life in the wilderness. Their 
means were very limited, and how to subsist with their 
families from day to day was the great question that looked 
them in the face each morning, and was very often their 
last thought at night. Not how much they could spend of 
God's bounties, but how much they could obtain, by the 
most rigid economy, was the true situation in which they 
were placed. When we remember that money was very 
scarce, and that the means of procuring it were based upon 
what little they might raise beyond the urgent demands of 
increasing families, or the production, by burning, of black 
salts, with long distances to be traveled to find even the 
cheapest markets, with a demand that was far below even 



CHANGES. 329 

the supply, then we may form a small idea of the situation in 
which the noble fathers and mothers of our Clarendon were 
placed. They rose at the first opening of the eastern gates, 
and all hands, from the children up to the silver-haired, 
worked like beavers to make this noble town one of the 
pearls in the coronet of the great Empire State. 

On all sides was an unbroken wilderness, interrupted only 
by the gurgling of the waters of Sandy Creek, as it wound 
its serpentine way to join the blue Ontario; above the 
sigh and moan of the lofty trees of the forest rose the 
plashing of the flood as it fell over the slaty ledges, when 
Eldredge Farwell, on that beautiful morning in golden Oc- 
tober, 1810, beheld it for the first time. How grand 
must have been Clarendon in those days of native 
beauty ! Could we in our '^ mind's-eye " take in the mighty 
maples, pines, beeches, ash, basswoods and evergreens which 
he saw in that journey along the banks of Sandy Creek, 
how would the heart swell in pride over such scenes, only to 
drop the silent tear of regret on the vandal destruction of 
so much of grace, glory and shade, ilow must he have 
toiled, in the following spring, to reach his final camping- 
ground where now the village of Clarendon greets the smil- 
ing sun I How about that beautiful and noble woman who 
was willing to share with him the dangers, privations and 
sufferings of a home in this wilderness, unknown only to 
the Indian and the beasts of the forest ? They are not here 
to tell us their story — their hopes, their fears, their trials, or 
to look fondly back over the many happy hours of their 
early home. But in the spirit, and through our conversa- 
tion with those who once felled the towering woods, we can 
hold communion, and walk down the aisles and avenues of 
the years long since fled. Clarendon has kept step with 
her sister towns in improvement, and her changes have been 
steadily onward and upward. She has not had the advan- 
tages which manufacturing on a varied scale might have 



330 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

given; she has not had the hurry and bustle of the iron- 
horse to arouse her latent energies, only as it pauses in its 
mighty work to bear away her beautiful sandstone, or sends 
its shrieking to arrest the attention of the laborer in her 
fields. Outside of her fruit supply, and her lime produc- 
tion, she has depended mainly upon the yield from her acres 
of waving grain, with a small furnishing of stock. Our 
changes have, therefore, been those of a rural community, 
and when the elegancies of culture and refinement have 
been introduced, they have come through the influence of 
neighboring cities, such as Buffalo and Rochester, and the 
direct communication with New York, by such merchants 
as Frisbie, Sturges and Copeland. 

In 1875, Brad and Menzo Lawton began to drill by horse- 
power the wells of Clarendon, and in 1881 they introduced 
steam to do this labor. This was a great change from the 
digging by hand, or the drill worked by the foot, as in tread- 
power. The gradual diminishing of the water supply had 
brought about the necessity of deeper wells, where the de- 
pendence is upon streams far below the surface,and the lime- 
stone and sandstone are now penetrated at a depth of sixty 
feet in some places, at about two dollars per foot, by drillers. 
Moses Kidney, who once sported about the old Indian 
lot, can now be found ever ready, at any season, to bring 
forth his steam-drill to pierce any rock Orleans county may 
have under its soil, and in the former days Martin V. Fos- 
ter, now the proprietor of the Clarendon Hotel, had his 
mind fixed upon the strata through which he was boring 
to strike water. Contrast the present system with the 
spring of the surface, or the old well dug and stoned, and 
one can but see the great advantage of the present over the 
past as to the supply. 

If, then, the true history of any country, as Carlyle and 
Macauley assert, rests in the actual growths of all the com- 
forts and conveniences which make up civilization in any 



CHANGES. 331 

age, then we invite the reader to walk with us through the 
silent years, while we show what time has done for Claren- 
don in progress and improvement. Minor changes we have 
given in other portions of our history, confining ourselves 
in this chapter to the chief agencies which have made Clar- 
endon what she is at present. 

The old fire-place, in its day, was a very convenient spot 
in which to burn the back-log and fore-log, with large quan- 
tities of wood piled across, and the basswood floors would 
allow the oxen to haul in these logs, which were large 
enough to keep a fire day and night in the absence of lamps 
of any character, and at first of even candles. Here the 
whole family could sit around, listening to bear stories, or 
tales of ghosts and witches, as a book, outside of the Bible, 
English reader, or Webster's spelling-book, was a rare 
thing. If the fire went out, the children, or some other 
member, hied away to a neighbor for a brand to start 
another, or some tinder made out of cotton or other material 
was used when the flint from the old musket gave the spark 
before locofoco matches had been introduced in Tammany 
Hall. The cranes on which to hang the kettles, the spits 
for the roast meat, the bake-kettles for bread and other 
bakings, the ashes with potatoes roasting under hot embers ; 
the pigs six to eight weeks old, with turkeys, geese and 
chickens, and fine roasts of venison, beef or spare-rib, was 
a sight, the very mention of which is enough to make even 
an epicure sigh for the good old times, to say nothing of 
the effect produced upon the stomachs and minds of hungry 
children, and men who had been clearing, logging and 
bushwhacking generally. Tin ovens next came, and the 
brick ones were ready to follow if one only had the ma- 
terial. 

The first stove of which we have any mention was to be 
found in 1830 in the Polly Tavern on the Brockport or 
Fourth Section road. Taverns at this time were the first 



332 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

to have improvements, as they had the money to buy and 
were the first to hear of radical changes from the passing 
traveler. The Polly stove was a large one for that day, and 
the demands upon its cooking capacity was great. At 
first the ovens were elevated, and even at this day some of 
the good old dames will have no other under their charge. 
What a sight this stove must have been to the log residents 
of 1830 ! What big bubbles of envy must have swelled and 
heaved in the breasts of ancient mothers when they looked 
at this wonder of creation ! No wonder that Elsie Polly 
remembers this stove and the year when its griddles opened 
to her view ! 

To the women of Clarendon the stove was truly the 
greatest and most highly-prized of any one invention. 
From the old Franklin with two griddles down to the 
modern range with six griddles and reservoir, capacious 
ovens, burning coal or wood. Clarendon women can look 
back to the dingy, dusky, cobweb fire-place, and take a long 
sigh of relief over the present circumstances, as compared 
with those of their grandmothers. 

In 1866 we find coal stoves in use at Daniel Barker's, 
George Root's and Henry Kirby's outside of the village, 
while Benjamin Copeland, David N. Pettengill and Amasa 
Patterson were the first to introduce their cheerful light at 
their homes. The " Morning Light " was a good coal- 
burner in its day, but N. H. Darrow can now furnish 
heaters that would soon retire the pioneer into some obscure 
corner. The effect of these latter-day stoves has been to 
largely do away with the cutting of firewood, and where- 
ever coal has once been used, whether for cooking or heat, 
the wood-pile ceases to be seen, and in the summer, oil 
stoves are beginning to dispense in small families with the 
use of coal or wood. 

The effect of this change from wood to coal has been the 
relief to the farmer, which he so much needed, from months 



CHANGES. 333 

of wood-chopping and all the inconveniences of slush, 
snow and ice after a busy time of hard labor in the short 
seasons of Western New York. To the women coal has 
been so much of a blessing that not one in Clarendon but 
prides herself upon the innovation, and her chief com- 
plaint is that her liege lord is too apt to prefer the old 
patterns to the new — out of a selfish motive. 

The old hand-sieve, in which to clean up and winnoAv 
grain in the early days, must have been a very slow and 
tedious process. But we here observe that generally as 
mankind requires something new and better, some plan is 
devised to bring about the desired result. In 1820, at 
Benjamin Sheldon's, Thomas Glidden saw the first fanning- 
mill of which he has any recollection. He saw this mill in 
operation at Samuel Hawley's, where now the Jacksons 
have fine possessions. This mill was carried around by 
Sheldon, and each farmer thought himself fortunate if he 
had grain sufficient to pay for the use of this machine. 
Now, the music of the fanning-mill may be heard in all 
quarters of Clarendon. 

The old-fashioned way of cutting grain was by the sickle, 
as any reader of the Bible well knows, and Clarendon fol- 
lowed this mode up to 1835 generally. F. A. Salsbury has 
in his possession a sickle, over fifty years of age, which did 
good service in his younger days. It required the best of 
Clarendon men to cut one acre a day with the ancient 
sickle. In 1826 Edward Packard made a cradle with a 
crooked handle, and the noted grape-vine cradles were in- 
troduced early in the forties. These were considered a 
decided improvement upon the straight or crooked snath, 
and cradlers were very proud when they could from sun to 
sun cut four to five acres of grain, bending their backs as 
if they had india-rubber vertebrae, with the raker and 
binder tight to their heels. It was really amusing to hear 
these mighty cradlers, around some warm fire, tell of how 



334 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

many acres they had cut when the witnesses were either 
over Jordan, west or surely absent. What a change the 
cradle must have been, and what an advantage over the 
sickle. But it brought more slavery upon the women, as 
each cradler required a follower, and this made the cook- 
ing during harvest a mighty work. 

The first reaper in Clarendon was used by James Cain 
in 1850, across from Curtis Cook's place, and the people 
came for miles to see this work, although Orange Lawrence 
informs us that he saw one in operation in Murray in 1844, 
on the Zula Martin place. Here was the third step for- 
ward, and when the rocks of Clarendon gave room, and the 
stumps had returned to their native elements, this new way 
was the admiration of the farmer, but the woe of the 
cradler, as he began to feel with Othello that his occupation 
was gone. 

Time flew by on his noiseless flight, when one day, in 
1883, William Hines drew into Clarendon his self-binder 
and reaper. And this is the last figure on the dial of 
change which grain-cutting has received in old Clarendon. 
Good-by to the sickler, cradler, raker and binder, they can 
now return with the past to lament over the new webs time 
has woven and the strange shuttles the human brain can 
spin. Do the women shed many tears over this recent visi- 
tor into the harvest-field ? Their tears are those of joy 
when the husband comes in and reports that he has cut 
with his binder twelve acres, every shock of which is stand- 
ing up ready for the storm, and that she need not worry 
herself about extra hired men. As William S. Glidden 
remarked to the author, " Harvesting is no work nowa 
days," and he laughs at the prospect of cutting his fifty or 
seventy acres of grain. 

If Clarendon rejoices over the binder, how must Dakota 
and the great North-west laugh over this wonderful change I 
With the cutting of grain came the means to prepare the 



CHANGES. 



335 



same for the market, and this became especially urgent 
when the Erie canal was opened in 1825, and the farmers 
of Clarendon saw an opportunity not only to supply the 
mills of Rochester, but also a demand from the seaboard 
for Genesee Avheat, as it was then called. Jason A. Shel- 
don in 1835 had a portable threshing-machine with the 
cylinder resting on poles, the wheat and chaff falling below 
unseparated and the straw raked away by hand. This was 
run by a horse-power and was considered very admirable by 
the good people of that day. 

The same year the Marshal raker machine was at Ferrin 
Speer's, and in 1838 the Eoot separator was run by Alvah 
Ogden. Here there was a decided improvement ; a machine 
that could clean its own threshing, saving a mighty labor 
on the part of the farmer. In 1840, Manning Packard pro- 
cured a patent for a grain separator, which was in many 
respects superior to any in the market. Now we have 
machines made in Buffalo and other points in this great 
country that are almost perfection in their handling of the 
grain, and they are known to the farthest limits of the 
globe. If the horses could all stand up and whinny a 
loud hurrah over the man who first harnessed the sunlight, 
as the great Stephenson termed it, to the threshing-machine 
in the place of the sweep, with poor beasts panting under 
the whip of some merciless driver, we should hear a roar 
of exultation that would shake the country from the At- 
lantic to the Pacific. The horse-power tired the noble 
horse more than one week's steady work, and now the coal 
or wood can run through with an even, steady motion all 
that any one or two good men desire to feed. 

These steam threshers were first introduced into Claren- 
don by Daniel Gillett and Charles H. Turner, in 1879, 
while the traction-engine, the last great change, which can 
roll over the highway as a locomotive, drawing thresher, 
tank and men, first blew its whistle under the Lawton 



336 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Brothers and John Nelligan in 1885. The day will come 
when these traction-engines will in a great measure super- 
sede the use of horses in the carriage of produce to the 
markets adjacent to Clarendon. In the cutting of grass 
the scythe could, with great sweating, he pushed through 
one to two acres, and this had reference to meadows or 
pasture lands, where the conditions were very favorahle. 
In 1854, John Church had for the first time a Ketchum 
mower in his meadow on the Byron road. This machine, 
if well handled, could cut ten acres in one day, equal to 
live of the hest men Clarendon could furnish. The horse 
hay-rake Church had in 1846, and the hay-tedder in 1862. 
What could the owners of large meadows do if they de- 
pended upon the hand-rake and the scythe to finish their 
haying ? In Clarendon it would be necessary for some one 
to insure the weather and the crop before any farmer of 
the present day, with our short seasons, would venture with 
a gang of men upon such an uncertainty. 

When the farmer had a large quantity of hay the hay- 
fork which William S. Glidden and Abram Bartlett at- 
t-ached to their barns in 1870, was found not only very 
serviceable when the time was valuable, but also a great 
preserver of backache and, perhaps, hernia. Especially is 
this true in hip or gamble-roofed barns, the first of which 
in Clarendon was built by John Irish on the present farm 
of A. D. Cook, in 1842, and the latter on Tommy Benton's 
place in 1872. 

There is no farmer but appreciates the great difference 
between a building such as Pratt Butterfield has erected 
on the old homestead on the Butterfield road and that 
which was built by Linus Peck, one of the first on the 
Byron road, on the premises lately owned by his son, 
Horace Peck. When this town, after the clearings 
abounded in stumps, a hole could be made in the soil 
between, and kernels of eight-rowed Dutton corn dropped 



CHANGES. 337 

therein, for the warm rains and sun, with genial nights, 
to sprout. And it must have been a strange sight to 
behold this kernel thus growing, for which we are indebted 
to the Indians. 

This was the day for the finest and largest of pumpkins, 
with the juiciest of water-melons and immense squashes, 
which the cutting down of the timber and the lessening 
of the rainfall has materially changed. The old-fashioned 
hoes which Bishop made and other blacksmiths out of cast- 
iron, the blade and shank quite rude, were sold by David 
Sturges as high as one dollar, without a handle, and these 
at first were used long before the cultivator came into use, 
its date to us unknown. This cultivator must have been 
a strange implement compared with the fine ones we have 
at the present day. 

At first the corn could only be shelled by hand, or, as the 
squaws did in the old fort at Oakfield, by rubbing on a 
rock. In 1847, corn-shellers made their appearance in 
Clarendon, but we are unable to tell by whom at first used. 
What would the hands do now with shelling even the corn 
crop of Clarendon, not to speak of the great west and south- 
west ? Zebulon Packard, who came into town in 1819, 
had for his first plow one with two handles, a wooden 
mold-board and steel point, which must have been ham- 
mered out by some one of the smiths at Mudville, or Man- 
ning as it is now called. Robert Owen, who lived near 
this point, had the first Jethro Wood patent, a cast-iron 
mold plow. Compare these with the Wiard or any other 
plow of the present day. We often complain of the stones 
and rocks of Clarendon in plowing, but what patience must 
the pioneers have possessed to move with oxen between the 
stumps, where horses could not be used. 

" Gee ! haw ! buck ! '' has now given place to *' Whoa, 
buck ! " and whether farmers swear louder and stronger 
than their fathers we leave the crows to answer. 
15 



338 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

David PetteDgill, on the Simeon D. Coleman farm, had 
a bean-planter in J 849, and the same year Manning Pack- 
ard invented one which was not patented. Bean-shellers 
must have been introduced shortly after, and the bean- 
thresher belongs to our day. In 1885 Alexander Miller 
and his son Fred manufactured a bean-harvester, which 
George Thomas now owns on the Byron road. Potato- 
diggers or forks have lately been introduced, but are not 
generally used in town. If the boys thirty years ago re- 
ceived one cent for eight or ten rods in pulling beans, they 
did well ; but now they will not bend their backs unless 
they receive the same pay for every four or five rods. But 
the bean-puller is rooting out the boys, and their backs in 
the future will grow straighter, and their knees have less 
patches for the good women of Clarendon to look after. 
The first bean -puller in this section was owned by Day, of 
Holley, in 1860. 

Calvin Tupper, on the Butterfield road, had a hay-scale 
in 1870, and now they may be found in different portions 
of our town. William S. Glidden had his first drill in 
1855, which he used to a good advantage instead of the 
old broad-cast system. The ancient drag was good enough 
among stumps and stones, but in 1876 WilHam S. GHdden 
hauled his in the corner and adopted the spring tooth, 
which he now prefers. 

If anyone had told the father of John Nelson that in 
1883 Calvin Tucker would be seen riding on a sulky-plow 
over the furrows he once plowed, he would have said: 
" Get thee hence ! " 

Charles Elliott, in the old red shop in the village in 1854, 
tausfht the farmers of Clarendon that his bob-sleds were 
much better to haul out logs from Tonawanda in the win- 
ter than the long-runner sleigh that required its length to 
turn in, and this was the occasion for the toad-smasher, 
or log-sledge long before bobs were dreamt of by our good 



CHANGES. 



339 



people. The author well remembers of a black-eye which 
he received from the rocks of a log gate pounding his head 
down at Harley Hood's, on the Holley road. 

Tn 1866, Manning Packard patented a traction gate, and 
the log one is now rarely to be seen. Pumping water by 
hand for stock was always a dreaded job, until such men as 
Daniel Barker, on the Barker road, showed all passers-by 
how he harnessed the gentle breezes to the rod, and made 
them do his business. In 1887, this gentleman invented 
an onion-marker for his own, which the author saw in per- 
fect use on his lands. 

George Thomas has introduced an engine into his barns 
which he uses for many purposes, saving much hand labor. 
The Clarendon farmer has not yet adopted the double- 
roller, but this will soon be seen when Benton or Glidden 
have an opportunity to see it work. 

George M. Copeland has introduced, through Charles 
Tinsley, on his farm, a millers carriage, on which to wheel 
his bags of grain, by which they may be dumped into the 
wagon below. At these barns, on the Byron road, on both 
sides of the barnyard, may be found watering-troughs, 
which are fed by a spring above, and give an abundance 
of water to the horse on the highway, as well as to the stock 
inside. The old rail-fence and stone-wall may be still seen, 
but in 1879 Nicholas H. Darrow began to sell barbed-wire 
fence to the farmers, and some are now using the slat- wire, 
which is made in Murray. 

The improvement in horse-barns is very marked, and 
the patent feed-boxes and mangers are worthy of notice. 
The underground stables are to be found in most new barns, 
and the manner of feeding from above may be seen well 
demonstrated at Nathan R. Merrill's. 

The cross-cut saw is often used for cutting timber where 
formerly the axe only was known. 

Helen Reed, who lived, in 1854, on the Milliken road, 



340 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

had a small sewing-machine which she fastened to a table, 
and used when employed by the good women of Clarendon. 
In 1860, the Grover & Baker ran its needles at Asa Glid- 
den's, on the Skinner road. No one invention has done 
more for the mothers of our town, who were formerly 
obliged to do all their sewing by hand, sitting up at night 
until eleven o'clock, when they had large families, and the 
boys wore patched clothes. Now ready-made clothing has 
taken the place of tailoresses in the household, and the stock- 
ling-machine has nearly superseded private knitting. Mil- 
liners and dressmakers have set up their shops in Clarendon, 
and the home-spun flannel, and home-knit stockings, are 
only known to the grandmothers, who are fast passing away. 
Well was it for them that they lived in days of true sim- 
plicity, or they never could have endured the ceaseless cry 
of "What shall I wear?" or *^When will I have a new 
dress or hat?" The consequence is that parents are now 
slaves to their children, whereas formerly they had them as 
props in the journey of life, and a large family was ac- 
counted a blessing. The great question now is, " What 
shall I do with my boys and girls ?" This fact is seen in 
small families, the dread of children, and the gradual decay 
of the race. 

In an early day the water was taken from springs, then 
the well was dug, and now the steam drill, and the sweep 
used, or ropes with pails or buckets drew it to the surface. 
Then came the well-curb, with the windlass and bucket, 
and last of all the pump by hand or wind. The rain was 
caught in troughs outside the log-house, or in barrels, then 
in cisterns beyond the house, and about thirty-five years 
ago the masons began to mortar them on the inside of the 
dwelling. For years the water would be drawn by hand 
from these cisterns, until the iron pump came into general 
use, as it remains at this day. 

In 1878, Abram Salsbury introduced into the Chace 



CHANGES. 



341 



mansion a furnace, and at this time there was only one in 
Holley. George Root, on the Root road, put in his in 
1881, and Ogden S. Miller and Walter T. Pettengill soon 
followed. 

Ira Phillips invented a carpet-fastener in 1857, and Mor- 
ris Dewey the set soon after. Myron Snider invented 
another carpet-fastener in 1859. 

The first piano was owned by Almira Church and Nancy 
Tousley in rapid succession. Emma Sturges could be 
heard when a girl playing on her melodion, and in 1858 
Cynthia A. Copeland had one from Prince, of Buffalo. 
Now the keys may be heard from one border of the town 
to the other. 

In 1871, William H. Westcott sold horseshoes by the keg 
to the blacksmiths of Clarendon, and in 1875 N. H. Dar- 
row began to supply them with nails by the keg also, leav- 
ing only Pat McKeon to make his own nails at date. 

David Sturges purchased in 1840, in New York, a four- 
wheeled chaise for $250, and the town has never seen its 
equal since, and this was in corduroy times, when the roads 
were fearful. 

The following customs of the past have been kindly fur- 
nished by Mrs. Samuel L.Stevens: Cob and potato pipes, 
with a goose-quill to smoke through. Dr. Samuel Tag- 
gart's wall in Byron was painted with flowers in 1838, be- 
fore paper was used. In 1843 the border on wall-paper 
was ten inches wide ; wooden hinges on log-houses ; wooden 
latch, and the string in the day was on the outside, but 
pulled in at night ; iron skillets on legs for wash-dishes, 
with soft soap ; wooden dish-pan, with ears on either side, 
in which to wash dishes. Mrs. Stevens had a tin tea-kettle 
which she used for fourteen years, and it did not leak ; 
copper coffee-boiler to set into the stove. She has a brass 
clock thirty-seven years old, which was bought at Albion 
for $2.50, and is as correct as when new; the looking-glass,. 



342 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

about ten inches high, twelve inches of glass, and in width 
six inches, with a flower at the top; earthen salt-dish ; tin 
pepper-box — ronnd ; vinegar in cup or bottle on the table ; 
wooden bottles, with a stopper to pull out, and used in the 
fields to drink from ; also other wooden bottles to drink 
from neck. She has in use a tin funnel forty-three years 
old. She has the same old flat-irons now, of the present 
pattern, but larger; a wooden mortar to pound spices in ; 
pestle made out of hemlock, fifty years old ; a chopping- 
knife fifty years old, in use now ; the frying-pan has a 
handle three feet long, to rest on coals in fire-place, the 
handle on a chair, in which to fry meat ; a stone churn, 
made in 1837, holding one and one-half gallons, good at 
present. She bought her first lamp about 1860, at Byron, 
with a can for kerosene. She has a salt-bowl of white- 
wood, fifty-Hve years of age, which could be mended with 
a needle. 

John Church was the first owner of a phaeton, and Col. 
Shubael Lewis drove in one of the earliest top-carriages. 

Screen-doors and window-netting came into use in 1875, 
and the women are now afraid of flies. 

The Mason jars have made even the winters to smile 
with their wealth of canned fruits, and house-plants liave 
converted December into sunny May and blooming June. 

Rag-carpets are giving way to Brussels and Wiltons, while 
the smoky candle is supplanted by the show of elegant 
lamps, and the greasy whale or elephant oil is now unknown. 

We look now through large window-panes, instead of 
greased paper or 7 by 9 glass, sit in cane-chairs instead of 
bark, recline on sofas and Ute-d-tetes instead of bass wood 
floors, sleep on matresses and springs instead of husks and 
straw, have French bedsteads instead of poles, extension 
tables instead of leaves, Japanese ware and stone-china in 
the room of pewter and wood, fine window-shades and few 
paper ones, fancy lambrequins in lieu of nothing, crazy- 



CHANGES. 



34^8 



quilts on top of calico, button shoes before calfskin, pic- 
tures on the walls where only the whitewash once was seen, 
and roll paper to cover the mortar, beefsteak as a substitute 
for pork, granulated sugar instead of molasses, jellies, 
custards, frosting, cakes and pies to drive out johnny-cake 
and pork-grease, puddings and preserves to charm away 
buttermilk, fine carriages in the place of pungs and foot 
or horseback traveling, cushioned seats and pews in church 
instead of the soft side of a plank, choirs to monopolize 
the hymns where once the congregation were musical — in 
fact a general revolution in Clarendon customs, habits, 
manners, politeness, simplicity and nature, but her soul is 
smaller and her heart less sympathetic than fifty years ago. 



344 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



CHAPTEK XX. 

CLARENDON GRAVES. 

rpHERE is ever in the minds of those who love the de- 
J- parted that feeling which memory cherishes, which 
time endears, and that occupies a place in the heart made 
sacred by the recollection of associations which death has 
rudely cut asunder. We call back the eyes that once 
looked love into our own, the voice that we delighted to 
hear, the smile that made the countenance to shine and 
glow as a sunbeam, the ear that was ever bent forward to 
listen, the step that seemed to gladden at our coming, the 
hand that grasped ours in the truth of affection, the heart 
in whose keeping we knew our lives were precious. Where 
are they now? 

We go down into the humble graveyard, where the first 
sweet flowers which the angels of spring have planted be- 
gin to look up and thank God, in their beauty, for lifo, 
when the robin has come again, and the lark and blackbird 
lift their praises with each returning day; under the sighing 
of the evergreens, or the rustle of the maple, we stoop 
down by the turf or gravel, and ask for those who once 
knew us, who loved us, as we loved them, but the silent 
home gives back no response. If we could only be confi- 
dent that they were present at our coming, then we could 
feel assured that they would, in a thousand unheard voices, 
teach us that, instead of lamenting their departure, we 
should feel happy that they have passed from death of the 
body into the higher life of the soul. 

Our graveyards should be spots, as in old countries, where 



CLARENDON GRAVES. 345 

the children could come daily, where those who are left be- 
hind could impress upon their minds the beauty of heart, 
the sweetness of life, the wealth of soul which these pos- 
sessed when traveling the road of existence, as we are now 
journeying. This would make death, not the king of ter- 
rors, as the old monks in their awful cells made it, but the 
opening door to heaven, the invisible gate, swinging noise- 
lessly to allow many mortals to leave their burdens behind. 
Away, then, with all this monkish ignorance ! This be- 
longs to the Dark Ages, when the life of man was a curse, 
not only to himself, but a reproach in the sight of his 
Creator. 

We have visited the different graveyards of Clarendon, 
and from the tombstones have taken the names of those we 
would not willingly let die to the world's eye. For the 
history of every town is as deeply embedded in the silent, 
tis in the noise of the present, and in these caskets the trea- 
sure of Clarendon's true glory is deposited. 

On the Byron road, nearly one-half mile to the south- 
ward, is the village burying- ground. Th*e fences are fast 
going to decay, the old posts rotted away, and the general 
appearance bears the picture of neglect and desertion. 
The busy days of the present, with fingers that grasp for 
money, and feet that are swift to get gain, have no moments 
or hours to spend in making this resting-place of mortality 
beautiful, 'i'he trees that grow yearly, and give forth their 
wealth of shade and glory, are the chief evidences that 
nature loves her own, when man has become cold and for- 
getful. Rose-bushes, that some dear heart has planted 
here, open up their buds and blossoms, and give forth their 
sweet fragrance, as if calling for the passer-by to open the 
gate and come in from the dust of the highway to spend 
an hour or more in the sacred chambers where the spirits 
love to hold communion. Nestled in the grasses, the pinks, 
lilies, larkspurs and red roses hold sweet companionship, 



346 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

while their little day of sunshine, soft showers and bird- 
song glides as gently away as the white cloud-ships above 
them, in the blue sea of heaven. 

As you enter this quiet home, three old tombstones meet 
the eye, carved very rudely, and telling a tale of over sixty 
years ago. It was only a step to these graves, from over the 
way, where William D, Dudley lived in that early day. 
But where is his tomb ? Where his wife, who sat up long 
nights watching over these children ? Ask the maples 
above you ! Just beyond Jeptha Kellogg and his two 
wives have the marble to speak their memory. Jeptha 
Kellogg we all respected away back in our boy-days. He 
ever had that " Good-day " for us, that look that invited 
us to come near him and talk over the past. Although for 
years this beautiful world was nearly shut out from his 
eyes, yet within he had, upon the altars of memory, the 
lamp of knowledge burning daily, fed with the oil of in- 
telligence and admiration. 

Fanny Philips always opened the door to us with that 
every-day face that seemed to be as free from clouds as the 
sky of Arabia in the golden season. In that quaint-looking 
house which Timothy Gr. McAllister occupies once lived a 
beautiful woman, Lois M. Cook, the daughter of Lemuel 
Cook, Jr. When she passed down the streets it was as if 
some sunbeam was moving over the way, and when she 
spoke in the prayer or class-meeting, the heart of the 
listener opened every door to hear her words of loving 
truth. 

Leonard S. Foster can almost be heard at present trying 
to convince some Republican that his party brought on the 
war, and should go south to do all the fighting. Mahala, 
his wife, was one whose patient look has left an impression 
behind that cannot be effaced. Eliziir Piatt has raised a 
monument to his mother, father and sisters, evincing his 
deep love for their earthly home and the tribute he bears 



CLARENDON GRAVES. 34-7 

to their precious memory. A beautiful stone tells of Sarie 
Z. Glidden, whom we knew and loved in the happy days of 
school-life. 

Bowdoin McCrillis calls no more at the old stone store to 
hear the news, and his place has never been filled by any 
other farmer in Clarendon. We always loved to meet his 
wife; she was one of the ^oofZ women of Clarendon, beauti- 
ful in countenance and spiritually beautiful in heart. 
When she passed away a golden sunbeam was lost in the 
sky of Clarendon. Adam and Nancy Richey we cannot 
forget, and when we traveled with mother to the old log- 
house, where Frederick Putnam now lives, the door always 
swung upon welcome hinges, and the house was home when 
we entered. 

David Angus I we call back the day when you took your 
last swim in the old mill-pond, and how all of the scholars 
stood around the grave and almost trembled when the 
gravel struck your coffin. Aaron Vandyke no longer does 
his daily labor on this earth. No longer he takes time to 
talk with the boys about Heaven. No more his voice is 
heard in earnest prayer. He never can be forgotten by those 
in Clarendon, and his name is as familiar as household 
words to many far away. Alexander Milliken and his good 
wife always made their happy home to smile when the boys 
gathered around, or the guest enjoyed their hospitality. 
Years ago, we were ever pleased to say a word of greeting to 
Mrs. Simeon Glidden. We knew that her eyes were the 
true index of the heart, and her words the echo of the 
soul. 

Bertie Church, you have gone before us upon the journey, 
but we still cherish the many pleasant days we spent to- 
gether in Albion or in the streets of Clarendon. There 
was a sweet, loving air of grace that ever seemed to hallow 
the countenance of Anna, the wife of Captain Stephen 
Martin. Such portraits in the gallery of this life we always 



348 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

hang upon the ceilings of the heart. Hannah Sturges mav 
be seen, as in the past, stooping to enter our house, and we, 
as children, looking up to her and wondering if the Ama- 
zons of any age were superior to her in strength and 
physical form. It took six strong men to bear your body 
to the tomb, and now your heavy voice is as silent as the 
turf above your remains. 

A good woman was Sally Fields, one who from under her 
white cap loved to smile upon us when we could only crawl 
upon life's surface. If we believe one who was present at 
the marriage of David Sturges and Cynthia Shepherd she 
must have been very beautiful. When she was a girl, and 
living in the deep wilderness, the night black with storm, 
and thunder and lightning making the situation awful, 
above the crash and jar of the elements could be heard the 
sweetest music that ear had ever heard, and as the old log- 
cabin door was opened it seemed to fill the air with its 
heavenly melody. ^' Oh," said the mother of the author, 
^' this was the singing of angels, as was heard when Jesus 
was born !" In her thirty-fourth year Cynthia, like a bird, 
flew away to hear those sweet voices that rose above the 
storm and darkness of her earthly home. Mary Sturges 
was beloved by all who knew her, and many who once 
looked upon her sweet face will again call back her spirit 
as they read these lines. 

Laura A. Sturges, the blessed mother of the author of 
this volume, was one whom no words can ever measure or 
language treasure. There was not a road in Clarendon that 
she did not travel on errands of love in sickness and health. 
Jumping out of the buggy, and never passing a house, no 
matter how humble, running in to kiss the baby or give 
some word of comfort or cheer, nights with the sick, ad- 
ministering her blessings, so that the outside world had no 
knowledge, and living not for this life only, but for that to 
come. A heart as loving as a child, a soul as forgetful of 



CLARENDON GRAVES. 349 

self as a mortal could be, and resting only upon the blessed 
Christ in all her hours of suffering and care. Twelve 
children, four to entomb, from daybreak until eleven at 
night, never losing one moment ; a little body of only one 
hundred pounds, but containing a soul that embraced the 
whole of earth and heaven. She thought of poor soldiers 
daily, she prayed for them ; she loved George Washington 
and all our patriots, and was one of the first to respond 
when the ladies wished to purchase Mount Vernon. There 
was not a rock or tree by the roadside but she loved to 
notice ; the woods were to her loving friends, and the flowers 
Ood's beautiful children. Ask the trees in this city of the 
dead to tell who it was that put out their roots and branches, 
their trunks, their w^ealth and beauty of shade, and they 
will all breathe her name ! The old rocks that overhang 
the brow of Church's Hill, how often have they felt her 
light step ! But they know it no more — the low, soft voice 
is no longer to be heard under the shady temple, and her 
pleasant face on the roads of Clarendon has disappeared 
forever. 

A lovely old lady was Johanna Eddy I Her voice was low 
and sweet, her life as pure and serene as the summer's sky, 
and she faded away like some light beam in the closing of 
evening. Truly we can say that the life of the righteous 
shineth more and more unto the perfect day I 

We give the names of this resting-place as we have taken 
them, with age and year of death : 

1855— Stephen Martin, aged 67. 1881— Jeptba Kellogg, 88. 

1870 -Anna, wife, 76. 1854— Mary, wife, 60. 

1872— Morris Dewey, 59. 1883— Fanny, wife, 73. 

1869 — Mary Louise, wife, 44. David Matson, Sr, 

1875— Luke Turner, 66. 1872— Betsey, wife, 88. 

1857— Adam Ricliey, 57. 1874— Betsey A., wife of Timothy 

1857 — Nancy, wife, 54. Carr, 55. 

1834— Zina Sturges. 33. 1857— Philander, wife of David 

1859 — Hannah Sturges, 64. Matson, Jr., 42. 

1826— Augustus Sturges, 67. 1870— Elisha Burr, 83. 



350 



HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



1851— Mary, wife, 88. 1877- 

1869— Sally Fields, 84. 1864- 

1843— David Sturges, 52. 1878- 

1830— Cynthia, wife, 34. 1835- 

1828— Joseph Sturges, 39. 1846- 

1842— Mary St urges, wife Rev. C. 1846- 

S. Baker, 23. 
1869— Laura A. Sturges,wife Geo. 1841- 

M. Copeland, 52. 1846- 

1879— Benjamin Copeland, 88. 1857- 
1867— Johanna Eddy, 92. 1876- 

1868 — Asahel Merriman, 64. 
1815— Eunice Piatt, wife, 39. 1830— 

1831— Simeon Glidden, Sr., 62. 
1831— Sarah, wife, 56. 1864— 

1850— Dr. S. E. Southworth, 33. 
1855— Alvin Ogden, 43. 1855- 

1842— Caroline, wife, 32. 1867- 

1853— Leonard Foster, 68. 
1871— Jabez Joslyn. 92. 1888- 

1850— Sarah, wife, 68. 
1868— Albert Joslyn, 65. 1870- 

1872— Rachel, wife, 62. 1865- 

1868— Frederick Putnam, 76. 1840- 

1883— Lucretia, wife, 89. 1859- 

1876— Bowdoin McCrillis, 71. 1875- 

1880— Hannah M., wife, 72. 
1859— Michael McCrillis, 81. 1854- 

1830— Thomas Brintnall, 86. 
1865— Simeon Glidden, Jr., 66. 1853- 
1878— Lucy, wife, 76. 
1867— Aaron Vandyke, 66. 1856- 

1878— Polly, wife, 73. 
1843— Samuel Nay, 42. 1873- 

1853 — Alexander Milliken, 54. 
1857— Sally, wife, 69. 1831- 

1858— Shepherd Weller, 51. 
1870— Rachel, wife, 63. 



■Cynthia, wife, 86. 

Leonard S. Foster, 55. 

Mahala H., wife, 63. 

John Piatt, 56. 

Alice, wife, 65. 

Melissa Piatt, wife Wm. 

Bates. 37. 
W. R. Barker, 36. 
Sarah, wife, 36. 
Mary Mitchell, 81. 
Sophronia, wife of Lyman 

Raymond, 76. 
Emma P., wife of Thomas 

Glidden, 21. 
Sally H., wife of Lowrie 

Clark, 56. 
David Angus, 12. 
Rhoday, wife of Truman 

Webster, 62. 
Malvina A., wife of Wm. 

H. Cooper. 
James Cooper, 76. 
Mrs. E'iza M. Church, 50. 
Joseph Turner, 72. 
Mary, wife, 74. 
Margaret A., wife of John 

L. Preston, 62. 
Mary, wife of Samuel Mil- 
liken, 88. 
•Elvira, wife of George M. 

Clark, 35. 
Minerva T, , wife of Henry 

Smith, 58. 
Edward A., son of Stephen 

and Nancy Church, 25. 
Mary Ann, wife of Amos 

Glidden, 33. 



The Robinson graveyard is one of the oldest in Claren- 
don. Horace Peck at one time had a plat of this ground, 
but this has disappeared, and is to the writer unknown. 
This yard has many graves that are unmarked, where the 
weeds grow in rank luxuriance, and the scythe and spade 
could be used to very good advantage, in the western bor- 
ders, and a new fence would demonstrate that the public 
still had some respect for this quiet spot. 



CLARENDON GRAVES. 351 

Cbauncy Robinson has a monument which tells that he 
was born in Durham, Connecticut, in 1792, and settled on 
this soil July 25, 1813. He died in HoUey in 1866. This 
graveyard also contains the following: 

1823 — Anna, wife (Wm. Lewis' 1841 — Mary, wife of Jonas Pea- 

daugliter),;33. Their in- body, 34. 

fant daughter was the 1859 — Samuel Coy, 79. 

first burial here. 1847 — Bethiah, wife, 61. 

1878— Damaris. wife. 84. 1843— John Milliken, 57. 

1881— Lucv, wife of Merrick Stev- 1840— Fanny, wife, 54. 

ens, 73. 1830— Asdel Nay, 33. 

1861— Col. Shubael Lewis, 66. 1831— Polly, wife, 34. 

1834— Eleanor Robertson, wdfe, 1842— Samuel Milliken, 89. 

42. 1853— Harriet Snyder, 88. 

1852— Pama Nichols, wife, 54, 1848— Cyrus Coy,' 63. 

1827— William Tousley. 66. 1873— Hannah, wife, 81. 

1851— Sally, wife, 84. 1849— Enos Nichols, 75. 

1866— Zardeus Tousley, 79. 1858— Lemuel Cook, Jr. , 66. 

1839— Nancy, wife, 52. 1871— Susan, wife, 78. 

1829— Betsey, wife Harley Hood, 1873— Shubael Stevens, 58. 

32. 1840— Rebecca, wife, 22. 

1887— Samuel L. Stevens. 1845— Sallie Maria, wife, 27. 

1845— Amanda, wife. 39. 1877— Rachel, wife, 57. 

1857— David Church, 79. 1841— Daniel Crossett, 41. 

1827— Lucinda, wife, 44. 1860— Jotham Bellows, 84. 

1831— James Barber, 61. 1854— Polly, wife, 74. 

1830— George Hood, 31. 1858— Mary A. , wife of F. A. Sals- 
1842— Valentine Tousley, 38. bury, 39. 

1831— Betsey, wife, 27. 1830— John *Dodge, 81. 

1846— Margaret, wife, 38. 1835— Millard Dodge, 38. 

1835— Mary, wife Isaac H. Davis, 1830— Cynthia, wife, 25. 

38. 1833— Benjamin Harper, 56. 

1847— Stephen Wyman, Sr., 59. 1855— John J. Harper, 43. 

1831— Nancy, wife, 42. 1861— John Stevens, 87. 

1861— Stephen Wyman, Jr., 52. 1844— Elizabeth, wife, 64. 

1884— Electa, wife, 72. 1859— Mary, wife, 64. 

1836 — Almira, wife of Jacob Glid- 1828 — Ebenezer Lewis, 75. 

den, 31. 1826— William Lewis, 39. 
1862— Sally,wife Lyman Cook, 61. 

This yard should be made beautiful, as William Lewis, 
the first sheriff of Orleans County, was buried here, and his 
son, Henry C, was the donor to the Ann Arbor Univer- 
sity of whom we have written. And in honor of the noble 
dead whose bodies repose here a memorial shaft should 
arise sacred to their memory. Some of the sweetest and 



352 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

best of women have laid down their forms here for the 
grasses and weeds to grow over, a living shame to those who 
once claimed to love them ; but mouth and heart occupy 
different positions. 

When the author visited the Grlidden burying-ground to 
get his information, he found briers, thorns and brambles, 
that had taken almost complete possession of the soil, and 
it was with difficulty that he was enabled to read the in- 
scriptions on the tombs, or even approach them. But that 
day convinced the good people that some respect should be 
paid to this sacred spot, and in the future flowers will try 
to grow in the place of weeds. This is a small home for 
the silent, embowered in shade, where seldom the roll of a 
wagon is heard, and those whose bodies are resting here 
could not have chosen a place more appropriate to their 
mode of life : 

V .^ 1853— Theodore Maine, 48. 1843— Stephen Williams, 53. 

4 /' 1852 — Amanda, wife, 34. 1851 — Eleanor, wife, 52. 

1863— William H. Cook, 28, Co. 1869— Electa, wife of Marvin Ful- 

G. , 1 5 1st Regt. , N. Y. V. ler, 31. 

1828— Asa Glidden, 55. 1850— Esther, wife of Gideon 
1845— Sarah, wife, 68. Chapin, 63. 

1839— Emeline, wife, 26. 1887— Patience Williams, 75. 

1868— John North, 39, Co. F, 13th 1851— Almira, wife of David 

Regt.,N. Y.V. Mower, 26. 

1835— Samuel Lusk, 55. 1866— Ann J.,wifeJ.C.Tupper,30. 

1883— James Lusk, 71. 1834— Alma, wife Jos. L. Cook, 31 . 

1868 — Susannah, wife, 42. 1869 — Maria, wife of Stephen 
1842— Joseph L. Cook, 44. Northway, 62. 

1837— Nancy, wife, 22. 1837— Lydia, wife Warren Glid- 
1878— Betsey, wife, 43. den, 19. 

1838— Clarissa, wife of Helon 1850— Eliza J. , wife, 34. 

Babcock, 27. 1836— Col. William Ross, 50. 

1828— Ruth, wife, 33. 1851— Ira B. Keeler, 52. 

1830— Josiah Howard, 66. 1847— James A. Smith, 63. 

1827— Phebe, wife, 55. 1827— Sarah, wife, 44. 

1848— Jacob Glidden, 80. 1869— Jacob Hall, 45. 

1880— Elijah L. Williams, 78. 1871— Sabrina S. Glidden, 31. 
1864 — Janem, wife Ferrin Speer, 

42. 

There is one plat of ground in this place which the 
Joseph L. Cook family, or friends, have lately arranged 



CLARENDON GRAVES. 353 

very tastefully, and is the only redeeming feature in the 

whole lot. Fire must have been allowed its way here in 

clearing up the brambles, as many of the white stones are 

black with smoke, so that one can hardly read the names. 

In a few years more this place will be as if it had never 

been. 

Where the Root district has its tombs on the Root road, 

the sighing of the evergreens is in perfect harmony with 

the repose and quiet around. This has been one of the 

old burial-places of Clarendon, as will be seen by the names 

given below, together with the year in which they died, and 

age at death : 

1853— Edwin P. Sanford, 65. 1833— Lyman Hammond, 64. 

1853— Patience, his wife, 63. 1877— True Worthy Cook, 80. 

1851— Acsha, wife E. G. Smith, 37. 1860— Sarah, wife Silas Millard, 58. 
1824— Asaliel Clark, 37. 1864— Susan, wife James M. Hol- 

Lorena H. Davis, 86. lister, 67. 

Levi Davis, 86. 1864— Polly, wife Thomas Tur- 

1859— James Dean, 68. ner, 87. 

1845— Theodosia, wife, 49. 1866— Alinda, wife William Tur- 

1844— Sarali, wife James Ricli- ner, 63. 

ardson, 83. 1873— Catherine Hudson, 79. 

1883— Curtis Cook, 80. 1859— Nathan Merrill, 73. 

1870— Russell Munger, 80. 1863— Nan^y Merrill, 76. 

1830— Deborali, wife Rev. Joseph 1881— Joshua S. Merrill, 90. 

Avery, 80. 1870— Betsy, wife, 68. 

1863— Setli Langdon, 77. 1833— Chauncey B. Bird, 78. 

1863— Elizabeth, wife, 81. 1839— Lydia, wife Deacon Thos. 

1859— Wm. N. Beckley, 31. Templeton, 29. 

1850— David Beckley, 79. 1880— Nathan Root, 83. 

1851— Jacob Andrus, 79. 1866— Sally Ann, wife, 58. 

1838— Sally M., wife Samuel L. 1856— Polly, wife of Thomas T. 

Nay, 37. Maine, 81. 

1833— Hannali, wife Enoch And- 1875— Sylvia, wife of Thomas 

rus, 30. Butcher, 73. 

1839— Electa A., wife of Erastus 1866— Lemuel Cook, 107. 

Clark. 19. 

By taking the general average of the life of the persons 
here entombed, it will be seen that they reach nearly sixty- 
six years, which is certainly a high mark to arrive at, when 
we consider that '' the days of a man's life are three-score 
years and ten," as the Psalmist said, long before Western 



354 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

New York was dreamt of, even by Roman or Grecian ex- 
plorers. And this fact illustrates another truth, that the 
early settlers of Clarendon were long livers, notwithstand- 
ing the pressure of large families, chill-fevers, hard fare, 
and all the ills attendant upon the settlement of a new 
country. 

Where the Brockport road intersects the (bounty Line 
road to the east of the old Polly tavern, is another place 
for mortality, w^hich contains some of the former residents 
of Clarendon. This spot is at present neglected and for- 
saken, and no graves have been dug here for years, the 
style at present being to carry coffins either to Holley or 
Brockport. The following is a list of names, date of death 
and age of those interred here : 

1857— Dan Polly, 71. 1865— Thomas Hood, 74. 

1 868— Abigail, wife, 85. 1842— Dorothy, wife, 48. 

Sarah, wife of Prosper 1848 — Ophelia, wife of Sidney O. 
Polly, 84. Thomas, 39. 

1842 — Deacon Ebenezer Hill, 84. 1834 — Lorana, wife of Charles A, 
1827— Asa H. Hill, 40. Bennett, 34. 

1847— Ebenezer B. Hill, 50. 1827— Nathaniel Warren, 39. 

1849— Susan, wife. 46. 1861— Polly, wife, 66. 

1854— Benjamin Sheldon, 69. 1841— David Warren, 61. 

1827— Benjamin Barber, 52. 1854— Hannah, wife, 69. 

1862— Eleazur Warren, 72. 1836— Asaph Smith, 73. 

1850— Sally A., wife, 56. 1833— Vienna, wife, 39. 

1863— Sally, wife, 57. 1863— John French, 84. 

1837— Abigail, wife of John War- 1854— Mary, wife, 72. 
ren, 30. 

The average life of the men whose bodies were borne here 
for interment was a trifle over sixty-three years, while that 
of the women reached fifty-nine, thus showing that the 
weaker sex, in this instance, were nearly as tenacious of 
staying on this side of Jordan as were their husbands and 
acquaintances. And it is a well-settled statement, that 
both sexes cling to the old hulk of mortality until the last 
wave rolls over them, despite doctors and diseases, which 
cannot change their time. 

About one mile west of Clarendon, on the Pettengill 



CLARENDON GRAVES. 



355 



road, is the old Christian graveyard. At present this has a 
new fence, which improves the appearance generally, and if 
the sunken graves had head-stones we might be able to 
give the names of many more who once helped to make 
Clarendon what it is in this day of fine farms and fruitful 
orchards. 



Daniel Brackett, Sr., an old 1868- 

Revolutionary soldier, 1871- 

somewhere about 1826, 1844- 

age not known. 1848- 

1865— Daniel Brackett, 81. 1857- 

1871_Lydia, wife, 86. 

1841— Levi Brackett, 36. 1855- 

Dennis Evarts, 76. 1879- 

Susan Oman, wife, 75. 1831- 

1869— Hypsey A., wife, 70. 1880- 

1856— Horace Far well, 40. 1868- 

1855— Frances H., wife, 32. 1870- 

1866— Hannah B., wife B. G. Pet- 1862- 

tengill, 68. 

1870— B. G. Pettengill, 74. 1873- 

1879— Samuel Wetlierbee, 78. 1848- 

1828— Polly, wife, 20. 1871- 

1862— Hannali, wife, 61. 1881- 

1863— Joshua Coleman, 77. 1860- 

1863— Esther, wife, 73. 1865- 

1864— Conrad Mower, 65. 1855- 
1874— Christina, wife, 74. 

Martin Evarts, 61. 1857- 

Louisa Evarts, 67. 1833- 

1834— Eli Evarts, 61. 1840- 

1848— Susannah, wife, 71. 1843- 

1852— Nathaniel Huntoon, 67. 1821- 

1864— Sarah, wife, 77. 1872- 

1863— Lynds Lee, 46. 1864 

1852— Wealthy, wife of Harrison 1846 

Curtis, 45. 1852 

1844— Abner Hopkins, 64. 1865 

1843— Lydia, wife, 52. 

1852— Hannah, wife Abner Hop- 1872 

kins, Jr., 24. 1863 

1862— Sarah Jane, wife, 38. 

1832— Seth Knowles, 70. 1875 

1836— Lucy, wife, 73. 

1871— William Knowles, 71. 1832 

1864— John Millard, 68. 1866 

1855— Betsey, wife, 56. 1831 

1836— John Wetherbee, 84. 



-Jacob Oman, 84. 
-Amelia, wife, 87. 
-Benjamin Pettengill, 83. 
-Phebe, wife, 79. 
-Mary A., wife Benjamin 

Pettengill, Jr., 49. 
-Remick Knowles, 59. 
—Susannah, wife, 78. 
-Elder Jeremiah Gates, 58. 
-Philip Preston, 85. 
-Sally, wife, 74. 
—Lemuel Preston, 44. 
—Nancy, wife Elias Lawton, 

66.* 
—Abraham W. Salsbury, 79. 
—Mary, wife, 51. 
— Lucinda P., wife, 66. 
—George W. Baldwin, 59. 
—Mary Eliza, wife, 35. 
—Amos Palmer, 72. 
— Chloe, wife of Jeremiah 

Palmer, 87. 
—Levi Preston, 74. 
— Wealthy, wife, 55. 
— Orrilla, wife, 43. 
— Eldredge Farwell, 73. 
-Polly, wife, 39. 
— Samuel Knowles, 73. 
— Eunice, wife, 61. 
— Joseph Salsbury, 77. 
—Phebe, wife, 81. 
— Franklin Weiss, 25 ; killed 
by Edward H. Pettengill. 
— Reuben Bennett, 83. 
— Amos Wetherbee (sergeant), 
died in battle. 

Hon. John M. Wetherbee, 36. 

Jared Thomson, 65. 
— Chauncey Hood, 39. 
! — James Myers, 71. 

Nathan Wickwire, 66. 



356 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

This graveyard was laid out over sixty years ago, from 
the land of Jerit Hopkins. The first fence was built of 
rails and posts, by Zebulon Packard and Adam R. Hamil- 
ton ; the second fence was of hemlock boards, furnished by 
Abner Hopkins ; the third was nailed by Benjamin Gr. Pet- 
tengill and Philip Preston; the fourth, as it now stands, 
of timbers and wire, in 1888, by the Church society and 
James Medill. 

Horace Farwell, whose remains are here, was caught in 
the drive-wheels of a locomotive, in 1856, at Albion, and 
terribly mangled, and the Masons buried him. 

We might enter the new cemetery at Holley and give the 
names of many within, but we prefer to allow them the 
privilege of being considered in a much finer spot than the 
old burying-ground could furnish, and, therefore, pass them 
by with a simple Requiescat in pace ! 



CHIPS. 



35T 



CHAPTEE XXL 

CHIPS. 

THE mason has his chips, the good housewife, in a 
wooden country, her chips, the worker in marble his 
chips, the laborer in the great mental workshop all kinds of 
thought-chips, beginning with the A of reasoning and end- 
ing with the Z of reflection, and in this history we have 
found daily these chips accumulating in our pathway in 
such a manner that we have been forced to brush them 
aside for the hour, but will now collect them as best we 
may in order that nothing valuable in information, either 
of the grave or laughable, may be lost. 

Clarendon has had some very strange characters, indi- 
viduals who have ever possessed native traits of being that 
were particularly noticed. The rise and fall of political 
parties, the rallying of her people to hear the different 
expounders of the Word, the excitement over social mat- 
ters, the every-day hum and buzz of gossip peculiar to a 
rural community, have all tended to make her known as a 
wide-awake actor upon the stage of being. These are some 
of the streams which we shall follow toward their source. 
When the roads were dotted here and there with log- 
cabins, and simplicity and originality walked hand in hand 
unfettered by the tyranny of public opinion. Clarendon 
was as a child, open and honest in her thought and action. 
The latch-string was on the outside of the cabin door ; the 
master or mistress happy to welcome the incoming guest, 
and all understood those humble rules of politeness which 
spring from the heart and not from the mouth ; that 



358 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

genuine hospitality that gives the guest ihe best the house 
can afford ; that asks him or her to sit down at the table, 
and, if away from home, remain over night, not in a half- 
smiling, sneering way, but in that true and child-like 
manner of welcome that can ever be understood by those 
who open their eyes and minds. 

From Asa Glidden's old log-house, on the Lusk road, 
over to John Stevens', on the Barker road ; through the 
woods to Horace Peck's or Sam Stevens' early home, on the 
Byron road ; at Sam Knowles, in the confines of New 
Guinea, when Isaac Swan was present; down at Stephen 
Wyman's; at good John Millard's; by the Packard, Oman's, 
Annis' or Hopkins' fire-places ; in the circle of the Bennett 
homes, where the unbounded hospitality of the Milliken 
mansion was hourly apparent ; at the Spafford, Warren, 
Nelson, Wadsworth, French, Sweet, Sheldon and Petten- 
gill tables — all was common, and the soul of the guest and 
host were in harmony. 

How is it in 1888 ? Do we find the door open or glad 
to swing, the heart and face wreathed in welcome and 
smiles, the chair and table at our disposal ? Are we better 
men and better women than our fathers and mothers ? Do 
we do unto others as we wish they would do unto us ? or 
has true love become a prisoner behind the bars of the dead 
past ? The iron trip-hammer of fashion and selfishness has 
long ago made dust-work of nobleness, generosity, hospi- 
tality and heart affection in the borders of Clarendon. Who 
rides up and down the roads uow to call upon the well with 
a word of joy, and, at the bedside of the sick with a face 
full of cheer, asks after their health and administers to 
their comfort ? One may die now, and only the doctor has 
the news. Who sits up with the children of disease ? Our 
mothers went from house to house in the black midnight, 
in sunshine and storm, and when the bells tolled for the 



CHIPS. 359 

funeral the schools were ready, out of respect, to close their 
doors. 

Where is the heart-meeting and the hand-shaking of the 
stranger at church ? Now we must have an introduction. 
Where the old tea-parties ? All, all have departed, the old 
familiar faces ! 

Years ago, when David Sturges had given up the old 
red store for his stone establishment, into its walls came 
one Ephraim McAllister, who has now disappeared from his 
old resorts. In this building he accumulated his ash, oak 
and hickory, and here he made lumber- wagons out of sea- 
soned timber. A little boy, with yellow sun-bonnet over his 
happy face and large brown ringlets, entered one morning 
to call upon this framer of felloes and spokes. " I don't 
know him from a girl " was the quick salutation, and, with 
his big shears, he clipped those beautiful curls close to his 
head, and left them among the chips and dust of his busi- 
ness. When some of the girls were at the bedside of the sick 
in the stilly night, his face appeared like the ghost before 
Hamlet, and if they did not shriek ^' Angels and ministers 
of grace, defend us I " they certainly turned deathly pale at 
the sight. An Irish girl, in the blackness of the morning, 
when her arms were buried in the froth of the wash-tub, 
heard a gentle tapping at the window-pane, and looking up 
she saw a face that at once made her scream '^ Holy Vir- 
gin !" and flee to her mistress. Albion street and Holley 
street beheld his running when, like Tarn O'Shanter, the 
witches, or some other host, was after him. The beautiful 
acorn tree on the Byron road laid low its green branches 
under his fatal stroke. But his hours of rest and conver- 
sation were the delight of children, and he has a large 
corner in their hearts. 

Commodore Elliott, who once had a butcher's stall in 
London, often said that there were only three beautiful 
sights in this world — a handsome woman, a fine horse and 



360 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

a ship under full sail. Of a stingy man he would remark 
that his pocket was made of hog-skin, every time a cent 
came out it came out with a grunt. 

Perly Ains worth, who had the first tin-shop in the old 
red store of David Sturges, made Mrs. D. F. St. John a tin 
cullender in 1834, and the number of pumpkin-pies which 
have had their origin in this vessel we will allow the boys 
of the household to answer. How very precious beef must 
have been in the Eldredge Far well family in 1812, to have 
cost in those days of barter five dollars and fifty cents for 
one hundred pounds ! The fine houses of Walter T. Pet- 
tengill and Georges Mathes are pleasant to look upon where 
once George M. Copeland's orchard stood, on Brockport 
street, but if David Sturges had not passed away under the- 
shadow of the grand maples he would have erected a man- 
sion much more elegant than either of these, and the roll 
of his carriage-wheels would astonish the good people of 
our day. 

To have seen the first blacksmith pounding back of the 
old stone shop, which was then a log smithy, on a huge 
rock, would have made P. T. Barnum or Christy open wide 
their eyes, and among the foxy politicians of 1888, the pen- 
cil-written ballots and Judge Farwell's stove-pipe hat for a 
ballot-box would tickle the diaphragm of any Battery boy. 
How did Judge Farwell's steam-pump work in those log 
days ? And did Cynthia Sturges and the Lady Hamilton 
have all the water they desired from the deep spring below 
the old rocks ? 

Where are the yellow- throated adders that once laid their 
heads on the stones of the old mill-dam, when the lads 
moved stealthily to haul them out from their holes ? The 
minister no longer takes the candidates for baptism into 
the waters just above, and these, as the water, have passed 
away. What has become of the mill that Fobes once occu- 
pied near Caryville, where St. John ordered his fine mahog- 



CHIPS. ^"^ 



anv for coffins, that would cost as high as ten or twenty-five 
dollars when David Sturges was borne away? Have the 
old bureaus, of the Sturges and Pettengill homes, an exist- 
ence now, that he framed and were considered very elegant, 
even as Haydin's ? Our harnesses look fine at the present, 
but they were not stitched by Julius Royce, or passed over 
by the Cook brothers. 

The Methodist Church has no more the large poplar to 
wave over the stranger, and one may listen in vam to hear 
Brother Van Dyke as he prays, or the sweet music of the 
flute, as Henry C. Martin played, or catch the low, soit 
voices of those who loved to sing " Jesus, lover of my soul. 
Wood-choppers may come and go, but who asks the boys 
and girls about the Saviour, or tells them of that better 
country where we all wish to go ? Does William Gibson 
move over the Holley road on his way to church ? How 
about the beautiful Mrs. Milliken, who was so glad to have 
us come and, with George and William, enjoy the first 

maple-sugar? , , i i.. 

The sap-bush is yet to be found in Clarendon, but the 
happy days are gone forever. The island where we loved 
to take our girls in boyhood days to pick wild sti-awberr.es 
would not be known now by the oldest inhabitant, and the 
paths we once trod have been passed over by the feet ot 
the destroyer. The grooved skates and the heel and toe- 
straps have disappeared, and Church's meadow seldom hears 
the merry shout, or Church's hill the orust-ridnig m the 
sharp winter day. Knee-pants and button-shoes have 
frozen the fun out of boys. The tavern barn still stands 
with its doors inviting the stranger to enter, but the lads, 
like Jennings, Foster, Turner and Maine, are not there to 
take their hand at side-hold, back or square-hold, or just in 
front of the hotel, with large stones, take one or three 
jumps to determine who had the most spring; and the day 
le 



362 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

of thrown-ofl coats and bloody noses, with black eyes, has 
been sealed to never again open. 

Take your place just above the village graveyard on elec- 
tion days, and watch Frank Phelps, John Crossett or Henry 
Hooper, as they held their fast nags, while some one 
mounted them to fly over the Clarendon Derby. What 
waiting ! what expectation ! what anxious faces ! what 
strange opinions and, often, betting ! Hark ! Now John 
shouts ^* Oo !" and they do go, down the Byron road as if 
" Sleepy David " was on the home-stretch. And then the 
looks of defeat — the cheers — the bustle — the confusion and 
the general scrub for the village — all this belongs to the 
day when elections meant something besides bribery, and 
money was not God. 

Before Christmas or New Years' day, down in Benjamin 
Copeland's meadow, some eighty rods away, would be placed 
a turkey, tied down, while such men as Jones Peck, Alex- 
ander Miller and Morris Dewey would take their station in 
the red shop near the creek and blaze away at the poor 
turkey's head, while the lads would look on in silent ad- 
miration. But the soil long since drank up the victim's 
blood, and many of the shooters have at last been shot by 
death. To hear the sound of sweet song was ever pleasant 
to the ear of the Clarendon gentry, and when William 
Cook, Henry Vandenberg or Oliver Jenks met, some one in 
the crowd would quickly say, ''Now, boys, give us a song,'' 
and it would be given with that sweetness and force that 
never can be forgotten. 

The whole world loves to hear a good story, as all will 
admit who know that " Robinson Crusoe " and the " Arab- 
ian Nights " have been published in all tongues. In the 
old stone smithy the boys would collect on a vacation 
Saturday to hear William H. Cooper tell of Napoleon and 
his marshals, or the many strange incidents which had been 
nailed in his anvil career. If one had a relish for Baron 



CHIPS. 363 

Munchausen, he conld be gratified by consulting Don 
Annis, who was rarely excelled by Dwight Goldsmith or the 
Wandering Jew. As to lessons in science or the study of 
the heavens, St. John had a ready stock of ideas, which 
were ever as open to the public as an Irishman's cabin. In 
the long winter evenings, around the old bar-room stove, 
sat a crowd who were loaded down with the heavy experi- 
ences of this life, and religion, politics, love, racing, fight- 
ing, trading, cunning, betting, and all other human subjects, 
were freely discussed, until the hand of Time was on the 
hour that told them they must, though unwilling, adjourn 
to their several homes. 

On Holley street, where G. Henry Copeland holds posses- 
sion, was once the famous gun-shop of Morris Dewey. The 
only difficulty in the enjoyment of his work was that one 
must ever stand to the windward of his breath. Here were 
to be found guns of all the muzzle patterns, with their 
twist or plain barrels. He was an excellent workman, and 
in Remington's would have been looked up to as a master 
of the craft. But he has made his last piece, he has looked 
at the sight for the last time, and the trigger of Time has 
let fall the hammer of silence upon all his movements. 

Near the noisy, plashing waters of the creek, on the hill 
of Preston street, we took particular delight in watching 
Philip Preston at the turning-lathe, and wondering how 
he could make that so finely smooth which was once so 
coarsely rough. His spindle has ceased its revolutions, and 
he has been turned over to that old destroyer of elegant 
humanity — Death. The bright light of the furnace fires, 
where the masses of smelted iron were taken out in the 
large ladle in the dingy shop just east of the mill lumber- 
yard, and the glow in the old Miller foundry, farther to the 
east on Byron street, have all been banked, the molds 
broken, the sand scattered and the fingers of many of the 
workmen are as silent as their patterns. 



364: HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

The most noted of all the Clarendon pettifoggers was 
Job L. Potter, and he was very brave in his case if he knew 
that the court would shield him from harm. Once upon a 
time he was trying a case against Henry A. Pratt, the 
Clarendon schoolmaster, before Ezekiel Hoag, Esq., one of 
the ablest justices of the olden days. Job made some cut- 
ting remark that entered Pratt's soul, when he jumped up 
and said: " Let me get at him! I will lick him quicker 
than hell can scorch a feather ! " Someone held Pratt, and 
when Job saw this he replied: '^Let him come! I am 
ready for him !" The old settlers ever loved to have law- 
suits, and would turn out in strong force when a case was 
on the town calendar, which was generally a weekly court. 
After the Sturges store was opened for this purpose by the 
owner, George M. Copeland, this was a very convenient 
place to hold these trials, and the amount of litigation was 
without parallel in Western New York. Albion, Brock- 
port, Holley and other towns furnished their legal talent, 
where until midnight the parties, and many others, would 
wait to hear the verdict. Now a justice in Clarendon could 
not afford to purchase Cowen's Treatise, depending upon 
his cases to pay for the same. Men have become more 
peaceable, and have not the sand in their spinal columns 
which their fathers possessed, and now fight with their 
mouths instead of opening the wallet. 

Among the stone men, Billy Knowles, Lines Lee and D. 
R. Bartlett have been the chief workers. The first two 
worked from one end of the town 'to the other, until they 
were at last mortared, graveled and sanded by Mother 
Earth. The remaining one now takes with him Elias 
Goodenough, Ferdinand Mowers, or John Gillis in his 
labors, which are at present within the boundaries of the 
modern Holley. 

In the former days the boys loved to hear the loud anvil's 
roar, when a wooden plug would take its flight skyward, 



CHIPS. 365 

bells ring at midnight, and the good citizens aroused out of 
*' balmy sleep " by all the noises peculiar to the morning of 
July 4th. Once the author had the rim of his straw-hat 
sent upward by an anvil ; and at another time a cannon 
bursting nearly closed his smoky career. J. Alden Cope- 
land, and another youngster, while trying to determine 
whether powder would explode in an old teacup, had his 
face filled with the material so that he jumped an old red 
gate in Benjamin Copeland's barnyard, took a creek bath, 
and then hied away for the old house at home as fast as his 
muscles could carry him, there to be whitewashed for a 
week or more with sweel oil and flour by Dr. William 
S. Watson, now of New York. 

Sidney Maine, one of the gallant Jack Tars of South 
Clarendon, had a scramble with the Randolph crew, of 
Brockport, and cleared the deck so suddenly that he was 
enabled, by fair sailing, to reach his home port without 
even losing a backstay, or being injured in the figure-head. 

When Isaac Bennett kept the Clarendon Hotel, he had 
the finest mail sleigh that has ever been on the course, and 
Benny Crossett, in his fine mail coach, would make Holley 
in fifteen minutes by the watch, up-hill and down-hill, three 
miles away, and if Morris Dewey were on earth he could 
tell how old Jack took five passengers to the cars one fine 
morning in the old buggy that had low front wheels, and 
high back ones, in the same space of time. 

Somebody smelt a little gas under the Farwell mills, and 
straightway an oil company was organized, the engine at- 
tached, and R. P. True sent down the drill for 700 feet, 
when the croakers began to croak, and the hole is now cov- 
ered by chips and pumice. But they smelt gas and oil ! 

In the sounds of sweet music Clarendon has ever been at 
the front, even from the old training days when such men 
as Henry Crannel were ready to sound the call on the shrill 
file, and Albert Turner to blow his cornet. George P. 



366 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

Preston has kindly furnished the following list of the old 
home band, which was the delight of the town some years 
ago: Albert Turner, Guy Salsbury, Alexander Salsbury, 
Alphonso D. Cook, Abram Frederick, Frederick Glidden, 
George P. Preston, Theodore Stone, John N. Beckley and 
Frank Storms. This band was an honor to Clarendon, and 
should have been kej^t up for all time, as it discoursed ex- 
cellent music, and caused the hearts of many to rejoice. A 
drum corps was organized some years ago, and George Lee 
laid aside his coopering to give us the names: Charles 
Cramer, leader and fifer ; Tom Lee, Ferdinand Mower, 
Frank Foster, Emery Dexter, Henry Webster, Aden and 
John Bowen, fifers. Drummers — Levant Jenkins, Lewis 
Mathes, Ben Mathes, John Kidney, Kobert Wilson, James 
Josey, Will Mead, Shephard Foster, George Lee, Frank 
West, Varnum Miller, and base, Vernon Mower ; John 
Mansfield as drum-major. This corps has been one of the 
best in Orleans County, and has won the admiration of all 
listeners. 

The town, a number of years now gone, formed a base- 
ball nine, which played at Medina, Shelby, Albion, Bergen, 
Byron, and many other places, with the best of success. 
Their names, as furnished by George P. Preston, are us 
follows : 

Frank Mower, pitcher. Lyman Preston, left-fielder. 

John Pike, catcher. Alex. C. Salsbury, right-fielder. 

Simeon Glidden, first-base. James Day, center-fielder. 

Lyman Nelson, second-base. Tom Barron, short-stop. 
George P. Preston, third-base. 

This original nine was in time dissolved, and other nines 
have stepped to the front, playing with the Ninth Ward 
Stars of Rochester, at Medina, Brockport, Holley, and 
various other places, the difierent clubs returning the visits 
at Clarendon, where the grounds have been north of Cope- 
land's Grove, on the Inman estate, and west of Cyrus 
Foster's. 



CHIPS. 



367 



The Tuscarora Band of Indians have visited town on the 
4th of July, and John N. Beckley of Rochester, John Cun- 
neen of Albion, Rev. J. A. Copeland of Rochester, and 
other orators, have addressed the multitude, either at Cope- 
land's Grove or on the Campus, near the stone church, and 
the public for many miles distant have ever declared that 
Clarendon can beat the state on this great day, in her fan- 
tastic parade, and general display of patriotism. 

It must have been a very strange time when the wood- 
sawyer, in the old Far well mill, sawed the log with one leg 
holding down the candlestick, or when Streeter, in 1818, 
stood on his head on the ridge-board of Judge Farvvell's 
big barn, now standing on Woodruff avenue. 

Those interested in the silk manufacture would have been 
pleased to have seen the silk-worms when they spun the 
cocoons on the mulberry trees, which made a dress for Mrs. 
Ira Phillips, and this in Clarendon about 1840, on land now 
held by George Turner in the village. All this we owe to 
Ira Phillips at that early day. 

Emma Sturges, wife of T. E. G. Pettengill, of Washing- 
ton, informs us that Miss Bddwin, wife of Eldredge Far- 
well, Jr., had the first piano in Clarendon, and that her 
own melodeon had a piano frame. 

The violinists of Clarendon at present are : Charles Dar- 
row, Dan Albert, Jay Northway, Corydon Northway and 
Don Goodeiiough, who can keep up the old-time reputation 
of Bishop, Fosters and Turner. Barney Goodenough was a 
violin-maker, and his instruments had much sweetness of 
tone and depth of melody. 

Horace Peck, in 1817, set out one plum sprout on his 
lands, on the Byron road. 

While Col. Shubael Lewis was driving furiously on the 
Byron road, Robert Crossett crossed the track and was no 
more. 

When Samuel L. Stevens was twenty-one years of age, 



368 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

he had a flour-chest made by Solomon Gaines' father, east 
of Pumpkin Hill, which Mrs. Stevens uses now, and is 
sixty-six years old. 

The Wilson stove, in 1834, had a pipe in the center, and 
was three and one-half feet high, with two griddles, with 
the oven in front, and only one tin to go in at a time, with 
a copper boiler three feet high. The rotary stove had five 
griddles, one large, three small, and one of a pint-basin 
size. This stove had a crank to turn the top, a tin oven 
with a reflector on top, which would hold five loaves of 
bread. 

Old John Stevens' pocket-book, which he left to his son, 
Samuel L., had four places for money — two for silver, and 
two for bills — and was marked in large letters, ^* Constan- 
tinople ; " and Sam's pocketbook had two pockets, with six 
memorandum leaves inside ; and Mrs. Stevens has them 
both in her possession (1888). Samuel L. Stevens left his 
wife a German thaler, date 17G4, which his mother left him 
at her death in 1844. Mrs. Stevens has the old chopping- 
bowl of John Stevens, which he had when he first began to 
keep house, made out of a black-ash knot, and over ninety 
years of age, in which she still chops her meat for her good 
mince pies ; also a cherry table with no leaves — oblong, and 
made sixty-three years now fled. Sol Woodard hammered 
out her hammer and tongs in 1828. 

In 1844, the Millerites were all ready, in their night- 
gowns, to go aloft, and when the earthquake came, Daniel 
Austin, as he saw his dear wife hold up her hands to ascend, 
said very calmly : '* Don't go yet, Sally ! " Perhaps he 
wanted her to stay a little longer over here. 

Mrs. Samuel L. Stevens rode twenty miles in a cutter in 
the great snow-storm which began October 27, 1844, and 
snowed three days, and one man on the Byron road was 
buried, and found after the storm had passed away. 

The New Guinea road was so very bad, in an early day, 



CHIPS. 369 

that Sam Stevens could not draw, with his best team, a 
barrel of whisky up the hill, and four men turned out and 
carried it up on poles — a precious lift ! 

Mrs. Stevens remembers well the terrible flood which 
nearly drowned Buffalo in 1844, when she was near Pen- 
dleton, in Niagara county, almost soaked through in the 
distance of one-fourth of a mile. 

Mrs. Hiram Ward was weaving the morning of the earth- 
quake of 1844, and her father in the corntield thought the 
shock of corn would tumble on him as the earthly shock 
rolled under him. 

In learning to trip " the light fantastic toe," Clarendon 
had Carl Dickson as the first master, and Hadley of Koch- 
ester, showed the lads how to take a "^pigeon-wing," or give 
the " Highland Fling " to perfection ; and the best dancers 
have been George McOrillis, Augustus and Gustavus St. 
John, with Simeon Glidden. 

The strongest Clarendon boy was Sickles Maine, and he 
was a giant that must have had a muscle on him such as 
Victer Hugo gave to Jean Valjean. 

Adolphus Van Buren, John Manchester, and Jared 
Thompson would not step aside for Kilrain, Sullivan or 
Tom Hyer. 

Oscar Sawyer, among the old school-boys, was as quick as 
the Japanese Giant when someone wished to knock his pins 
from under him, and it took a good man to lay Jacob Glid- 
den on his back. 

Delos Piatt could write his name with skates when the 
ice was like a molten looking-glass. 

Lyman Nelson and Corydon Kelley could skip over 
Clarendon soil like some Indian of the plains. 

The old games of barn-ball base, hunt the gray, two-old, 
three-old- and four-old-cat have gone out into the fun and 
frolic of the past, while pom-pom pull-away, lea^J-frog, 
crack-the-Avhip, ring-around, jump-the-rope and anty, anty 



370 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

over, are laid away in memory's play-shop. Boys very sel- 
dom put the chips on each other's shoulders, and then dare 
each other to knock them off ; and the absence of whipping 
at school or at home has taken most of the sand out of 
young Clarendon; and if another war should occur the 
girls would take their places in the ranks, just as the white 
man used the darkey in the lower regions. Boys hang 
around the stores, shops and groceries now on cold days, 
instead of courting the winter storm on Church's meadow, 
or coasting on Church's hill, and their dear mothers are 
making dudes of them as rapidly as fashion will allow. 

When Elder Cornish had preached at the Christian 
church six months acceptably, one morning, at the Confer- 
ence meeting, Daniel Austin very gravely arose and informed 
the brethren that he had listened to Elder Cornish for six 
months, and in all that time had heard him say nothing 
about hell, and he hoped he would not hear any more such 
sermons, and sat down. No notice was taken of these re- 
marks by the elder, but the next day, at a funeral of a young 
girl, he preached this lower subject so vividly, and touched 
Uncle Daniel, who was present, so forcibly upon his love 
for the " Oh, be joyful," that he never again commented 
upon the good elder's lack of hades-preaching. The after- 
noon after the funeral sermon, the elder came out where 
Squire Pettengill was hewing timber, who said: *' Elder, 
you were quite fiery in your sermon this morning." "Yes," 
he replied, *' I never preach hell unless I am full of hell 
myself," which saying would be very applicable even now. 

Elder H. S. Fish, of the Christian church, was a very 
earnest worker, and, withal, a little unguarded when his 
tongue took possession of his judgment. He had been for 
some time holding evening meetings, and, after he had de- 
livered one of his most persuasive sermons, paused and 
asked "all those who desired to start anew in the Christian 
Church to come forward on to the anxious seat." He 



CHIPS. 371 

waited a few moments, and none came. He then said they 
would sing a verse, and he wanted all to come. The verse 
was sung, but none came. He paused again, and then 
asked if none of them wanted to go to heaven. No re- 
sponse ! Then he exclaimed, " Sit in your seats and go to 
hell, then ! " and at once closed the meeting. The next 
day the " Squire " met him as usual, and asked the Elder 
if he did not think his closing was rather brash. '' Well," 
he replied, " I was so mad I could not help it ! " and no 
doubt the bad angels laughed in their spirits on both 
occasions. 

Edwin P. Sanford, of the Root road, was one. time work- 
ing with old Lemuel Cook, of Revolutionary fame, and he 
was, as usual, telling his great exploits, to kill time. He 
said that he was the father of seven sons, and he did not 
believe that any one knew of another such family. San- 
ford, in his stammering way, replied, '^ He h-a-d r-e-a-d of 
j-u-s-t s-u-c-h a f-f-amily ! " and when pressed to give 
the name, he said, " It w-w-as M-m-ary M-m-agdalene," 
and that turned the laugh on old Lemuel with a general 
roar. 

In the old tavern days there were many incidents which 
occurred when the laugh went round. Ezekiel Hoag was 
complaining at one time of the many trials and troubles 
which he encountered in this life, in the presence of Philip 
Angevine, who was the landlord. Augevine replied to 
Hoag, " Hoag, you should walk in the path of rectitude 
and virtue, and then you won't have any trouble. Hoag, 
step in my track ! " Hoag straightened himself up and 
said, very gravely, " Angevine, make a track j I never knew 
you to make one in my life ! " Some one was going from 
Clarendon to Michigan, and each one was telling the indi- 
vidual that if he saw any one that he knew to tell that 
person of their several situations in life. Hoag, who was 
present, with much dignity remarked, " And if you see any- 



372 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

body that knows me, tell him that I am in easy circum- 
stances." Jimmy Bowles and" Jared Thompson, having had 
a glass or two, fell into a dispute, which resulted in blows, 
when Jimmy had Jared in the corner foul. After they were 
separated, Jared said, '^ Jimmy, I could have knocked you 
into hel] in a moment if I had wanted to!" *•' I know 
it," said Jimmy, ^^but I did not want to go." Martin 
Dewey and Hoag had been out hunting with the boys in 
the green-corn time, and, returning to Levi Preston's, on 
the Barre road, had a roast. After the corn had been 
eaten, Dewey and Hoag bet the liquor as to who could hit 
a mark the nearest to the center. In the meantime, 
Dewey had stopped the air-hole next to the pan, and then 
stepped forward and made his shot. Hoag walked up, took 
his old musket, aimed very deliberately, and there was only 
a flash in the pan. ''Weill well !" said Hoag, '*I never 
saw the likes of this. I have lost, and we will try it 
again." Both fired, and Hoag had again the same flash, 
without any explosion, and, full of astonishment, he raised 
the pan and saw the wooden plug, which ended his wonder, 
and all adjourned to the old tavern to receive the wager. 

In 1826, a vote was taken at a town meeting that a fine 
of fifty cents be imposed upon any farmer who would allow 
Canada thistles or Tory weed to grow on his farm. In the 
same year constable and collector were placed on one ticket. 
In 1839, one hundred dollars was raised as a bounty on 
crows, at one shilling a head. In 1841, thirty dollars for 
bridges and roads. In 1842, two hundred dollars for 
schools. In 1843, one hundred dollars for schools and 
fifty dollars for roads and bridges. In 1844, two hun- 
dred dollars for schools. In 1846, six dollars and seventy- 
five cents out of the poor fund for bridges and roads and 
two hundred dollars for schools. In 1845-47-48, two 
hundred dollars each year for schools. In 1852, sixteen 
dollars for schools. In 1855, twelve dollars for roads and 



CHIPS. 3 i '6 

bridges ; path-masters were made fence- viewers ; swine, at 
large, fifty cents fine ; lawful fences, four and one-half feet 
high; no cattle, sheep or hogs at large from November 1st 
until April 1st, fine one dollar, within half a mile of any 
store, mill or distillery; twenty-five dollars for standard of 
weights and measures ; ten dollars for procuring a map of 
Clarendon ; one hundred dollars for schools ; four ballot 
boxes and four tickets, viz., supervisor and town clerk, one 
ticket ; assessors, commissioners and overseers of poor on 
the second ticket ; collector and constable on the third 
ticket, and commissioners and inspectors of schools on the 
fourth ticket, and that a j^oll-list be kept. These resolu- 
tions, as above given, were parsed at town meetings in 1821 
and 1822. In 1828, the record of weights and measures 
was made as follows : One-half bushel, one peck measure, 
one four-quart measure, one two-quart measure, one quart, 
one pint, one gill, one scale and balance, one weight of 
fifty-six pounds, one of twenty-eight j^ounds, one of four- 
teen pounds, one of seven, one of four, one of two, one of 
one, one of one-half, one of one-quarter, one of two 
ounces, one of one ounce and one of one-half ounce, all of 
which were recorded May 4, 1828. In 1831, that the col- 
lector shall have five cents on each dollar; that all neat 
cattle shall be free commoners, and that every man shall 
keep a good fence. In 1835, that the town clerk be author- 
ized to purchase such blank books as may be necessary for 
Clarendon ; that the suit against Daniel Brackett be pushed 
by the supervisor if thought advisable by counsel. In 
1838, that horned cattle run as free commoners from May 
1st to November 1st. From 1821 to 1835 one thousand 
and seventy-six dollars were appropriated for schools and 
fifty dollars for the poor. This demonstrates that the poor 
were very few and self-supporting generally, whereas the 
town poor of 1888 cost the town about two hundred 
dollars and the roads and bridges have cost in one year the 



374 HISTOKY OF CLARENDON. 

snug sum of nine hundred dollars, from which a very in- 
structive lesson may be learned if figures do not lie. 

In the old days the owners of stock had private marks, 
by which they could tell their own, and these were recorded 
by the town clerk. This was called the ear- mark record, 
and the shape of the mark was entered on the book. 
William Lewis had a slit in each ear of his stock ; Stephen 
Martin a half-penny on the under side of the right ear ; 
William Dudley, a half-penny on the under side of the left 
and right ears ; Chauncey Robinson, a half -penny under the 
left ear and a slit in the same ; Benjamin Thomas, a swal- 
low fork in the left ear and a slit in the right ; Noah 
Sweet, a square cross off the left and a half-penny under the 
right ear ; Cyrus Coy, a slanting cross off the upper side of 
the right ear; Anson Bunnell, a slit in left ear; William 
To usley, a hole through the right ear; Eldredge Farwell, 
a half cross off the under side of each ear ; Seth Knowles, 
a tenant on left ear; Abner Hopkins, a square cross off the 
left ear and a hole through the right ; Chauncey Hood, a 
square cross off the left ear ; John French, a swallow fork 
in the right ear and a half cross under the left. These are 
a few of the ear-marks, which we have given to show the 
custom of our fathers. 

In 1821, the first year of Clarendon, the town was di- 
vided into twenty-seven road districts with twenty-seven 
overseers, as follows : 

No. 1 — William Phillips, near the Polly tavern. 
No. 2 — Nathaniel Huntoon, at N. E. Darrow's. 
No. 3 — Isaac Cady, on Hulberton road. 
No. 4 — Enos Dodge, at John Church's. 
No. 5 — Michael Spencer, on Taylor road. 
No. 6 — David Sturges, on Byron street. 
No. 7 — Alexander Annis, on the Barre road 
No. 8 — Ezekiel Lee, at Honest Hill. 
No. 9 — Jared L. Cook, Lusk road. 
No. 10 — John Miller, Warren road. 
No. 11 — Noah Sweet, Templeton road. 
No. 12 — Levi Broughton, Sawyer road. 



CHIPS. <375 

No. 13— Lemuel Pratt, Webster road. 

No. 14— Jacob Oman, Millard road. 

]v^o. 15— Elias Palmer, Milliken road. 

No. 16— John Stedman, West Glidden road. 

No. 17 — Peter Drouns, Butterfield road. 

No. 18— James A. Smith, West Glidden road. 

]^o. 19— Ira Lucas, at Lucas & Curtis' mills. 

No. 20— Simeon Glidden, Matson road. 

No. 21 — Cyrus Coy, at Robinson school-house. 

No. 22— Enoch Belcher, Reed road. 

No. 23 — Henry Jones, Wyman road. 

No. 24 — Asdel Nay, Ward road. 

No. 25 — Asahel Clark, Root road. 

No. 26 — Zebulon Packard, Packard road. 

No. 27— Chauncey Gould, Taylor road. 

Eldredge Farwell had the highest tax of fifteen days in 
the "Mills" this year, and Dan Polly and Benjamin 
Thomas ten days each, and John Cone, fourteen days ; 
Joseph Sturges and Seth Knowles, ten each ; Abner Hop- 
kins, Elizur Warren, David Church, Lmus Peck, Shubael 
Lewis, John Stephens, Asa Clidden, Cyrus Hood, James 
Cornwell and James A. Smith had eight days each ; Elias 
Palmer, ten days; Chauncey Robinson, twelve days, and 
William Lewis, nine days ; Noah Sweet had sixteen days 
in his two lots purchase. 

It will be observed that outside of the village the 
wealth of the town was to the south and east, and the 
same rule holds in 1888. In 1829, David Sturges had 
twenty-nine days, as against five days in 1821, and Eld- 
redge Farwell had twenty-seven days second in order on 
the tax-roll. Dan Polly had fifteen days and John Cone 
nineteen days. Some of the first on the list of 1821 were 
tending to the last in 1829, and some of the last in that 
year were rapidly climbing to be the first in 1831, and so 
rolls the world away. 

In the list of 1835 there were forty-four overseers, who 
embraced the following : 

Dan Polly, Ephraim Fletcher, Stephen Wyman, Jr., 

David Sturges, Helon Babcock, Stephen Wyman, Sr., 

Remick Knowles, Joel Clark, E. P. Sanford, 



376 



HISTOKY OF CLARENDOISr. 



Jolin Church, 
Leonard Gillett, 
Daniel Green, 
x\bner Hopkins, 
Simeon Howard, 
Jason A. Sheldon, 
David Warren, 
John Abrams, 
Harley Hood, 
Caleb Hallock, 
James Preston, 



William Sheldon, 
Alpheus Curtis, 
Calvin C. Patterson, 
Cyrus Coy, 
Elijah Ainsworth, 
Jacob Glidden, 
Ira Richmond, 
Nathan Merrill, 
Amos Cady, 
Horace Richardson, 
Aaron Rand, 



Charles A. Bennett, 
Manning Packard, 
Philip Inman, 
Elijah L. Williams, 
Horatio Reed, 
Cyrus Hull, 
Alexander Annis, 
Samuel Miller, 
Samuel L. Stevens, 
Eli Beardsley, 
Charles Barns. 



Not one of these, to our knowledge, is now on this 
whirling globe of time, and in fifty-three years they have 
been rowed over that river by the silent Charon who never 
brings back any of his passengers. And it is a sad thought 
that the faces we have ever loved to look upon must give 
us their last appearance, that the bright eyelights must 
go out in darkness, the deep rich tones of the silver chord 
be loosed forever, the golden bowl of storied intelligence 
be rudely broken, the hands dro^o down silently and the 
feet no longer hasten at our coming ! But we shall meet 
beyond Clarendon ! 

David Forbush, whom we have mentioned as living both 
on the Byron road and on the Tousley road, had a stomach 
like an alderman and a voice like a woman. At one of 
the New Guinea prayer-meetings old William Holt was 
present with a goodly company of brethren and sisters, 
Forbush among the number. Forbush prayed thus : 
** Brethren and sisters, I had a beautiful dream last night ; 
I thought I went to heaven and saw Jesus Christ sitting 
on a great white throne, with a great multitude of angels 
all about him. By crackey ! I would give fifty dollars if 
I could only have the same dream again to-night." Old 
Holt, who had his gray head buried in his hands, and 
supposing the voice of Forbush to be one of the women 
present, cried ovit,^^ God bless that sister f Whether he 
discovered his mistake before the meeting adjourned we 
cannot say, but the fact was too laughable to hide from 



CHIPS. 377 

the public ear. When Forbush wished to whip his boy 
Milo, he would say, " Milo ! Milo ! come here and see what 
a pretty little bird I have got," and if Milo was caught 
give him a good thrashing. 

When Abraham Lincoln was president, during the war, 
Abraham W. Salsbury and Benjamin G. Pettengill visited 
Washington, and, wishing to see the president, attended 
the same church and at the close stationed themselves at 
the door. When Mr. Lincoln passed by, Salsbury placed 
himself in the way, with Pettengill, and said : '' Mr. Lin- 
coln, my name is Salsbury, and this is Squire Pettengill, 
and we are from Clarendon ! " 

Daniel Brackett was a cross man to his children, and 
if one of them failed to move as he wished, the toe of 
his boot was generally ready to assist. When the great 
fall of aerolites took place he became very good, and was 
ready to pray with his children for about the space of 
three days, until he became convinced that the world was 
not on the eve of dissolution. Then, like some storm- 
escaped passenger, his true nature returned, and he became 
as ferocious as ever. One of his boys happening to dis- 
please him on the fourth day, he gave him an old- 
fashioned kick, and the lad said to his uncle, ''I wish the 
stars would fall again ! " This story teaches that affected 
kindness springs from fear and not from genuine love in 
instances of this character. If the kicker could have been 
kicked by some one larger than himself he would have then 
realized the force of the punishment. 

When the Fullers kept the hotel at Mudville, some party 
had raised a pole to illustrate their feelings in relation to 
Morgan. When the father and son returned home they at 
once chopped down this pole, which stood just in front of 
the inn. Jacob Oman, hearing the blows of the axe, ran 
down from his home very quickly, and said to bis son Jacob, 
^' Jake, you take young Fuller; I take the old man I" and 



378 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

the way he took him very soon made the gray-haired fighter 
to cry out, " Take him off, take him off ! " as loud as he 
could bawl. Soon after another pole was raised by the 
Oman's faction, when Whipple, of Barre, took Reuben 
Bennett, who had thrown his arms about the pole to pre- 
vent its cutting, and tore his shirt nearly from his body 
before he would release his grasp. Alexander Annis stood 
in the line of the falling pole and dared any one to cut it 
down. When it fell it brushed very closely to his head, 
and Whipple asked old Jake Omans what he had to say 
about it. He could only snarl and walk away growling. 

Among the noble women of Clarendon we love to par- 
ticularly mention Mrs. Eldredge Farwell, now of Holley, 
the mother of Ellen, Gertrude, Susan, Florence, Fowler 
and Horace Farwell, embracing one of the best families in 
the Empire State. Mrs. Farwell is at present over seventy 
years of age, and is a leading member of the Chautauqua 
literary circle — a beautiful woman in person, mind, heart 
and soul ; one of the few in this life who, when they pass 
away, are missed as we would the snuffing out of a celestial 
orb. 

Jimmy Bowles was at one time complaining of too much 
water in the whisky he drank, and one of the leading citi- 
zens remarked : " Why, Jimmy, I should think this would 
please you, as you will not get drunk on such liquor." 
'^ No, it don't," said Jimmy. " I only get fifty cents a day, 
and when the whisky is good I can get full on six cents, 
at three cents a drink, and take home three shillings and 
sixpence for my family. But when the whisky is watered, 
it takes three shillings and sixpence to get drunk, and I only 
have sixpence to carry home, and I go there bloated up with 
water." Jimmy was a wise philosopher. 

In the love of literature. Judge Farwell, Benjamin Cope- 
land, George M. Copeland, Daniel F. St. John, Henry Cran- 
nell, William H. Cooper, John B. King, Col. Charles James 



CHIPS. 379 

and Manning Packard have ever evinced their love for 
books, the hest friends that man has upon this earth, while 
among the younger class we would name James McCrillis, 
S. Herbert Copeland, Winfield Ward, Frank Foster and 
Albert Church. A literary club would be well appreciated 
in Clarendon, if properly organized. 

In a country village, some persons love to hear all the 
news, and are never satisfied until they have opened the 
doors of their houses, and as soon as possible opened the 
doors of their mouths into some neighbor's ear, especially 
if the news be bad, or someone is falling in the race of life, 
or dying, or dead. When Mrs. Jared Thompson moved 
away, it was said of her that she had all the news of the 
village and country, and yet never said one evil thing about 
anyone. She was a very remarkable woman, and always 
had a whole army of Tabbies about her home. 

As special admirers of style and speed in the stately step- 
ping steed, we can mention Lewis Patterson, Martin V. 
Foster and Lyman Preston, of the village; C. H. Chace, 
on the Holley road; George Taylor, on the Taylor road; 
William Lyman, on the Butterfield road ; Daniel Barker, 
on the Barker road ; Nathan R. Merrill and Charles Tins- 
ley, on the Byron road ; Edgar Stevens, on the Stevens 
road ; Edwin Babbage, on the Wyman road ; David Bridge- 
man, on the Milliken road, and Anson Salsbury, on the 
Hulberton road. 

Away back in the old Revolutionary days, the good 
mothers were quite often left alone and unprotected in 
the wilderness. This was the case with Mrs. Daniel Brack- 
ett, whose husband was in the field fighting the British. 
A party of Indiaus came around the old log-house one 
night, set up their war-whoop, and did their best to enter 
the cabin. The old Dutch fireplace was in full blast, and 
one of the braves thought he would jump down the chim- 
ney. He did so, and the good woman threw into the flame 



380 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 

a feather bed, and gave the Indian a crack with the poker 
which settled him. 

The following descriptive rhyme was given us by Mrs. 
D. F. St. John, which she had preserved since that day 
among her school-rolls : 

On Clarendon Village. 

Since poetry is my design, 
I thought I'd write you a few lines 
About this village, all so neat, 
Because it is bold Clarendon's seat. 
'Tis first I'll tell you its bounds : 
A hill most part of it surrounds. 
To see the ground's majestic grace. 
Yourself upon this hill must place. 
This hill is oft a favorite walk 
For people who delight to talk. 
They leave the gay and sportive throng 
Of noisy boys that play along. 
Of the suburbs next 1 shall treat : 
The streets irregular, though neat. 
Two siores in this place you'll find, 
An<i dwelling-houses of every kind, 
A church you'll find in Scio street, 
Where all good people love to meet ; 
A steeple high as need to be — 
If you're observing you will see. 
The taverns I have not mentioned yet, 
Although I shall not them forget, 
There are two taverns, as you may tell, 
And one is called Clarendon Hotel. 
Besides, some blacksmith-shops around 
To cheer the village with the sound. 
Two schools, which much do vary. 
And one is called Clarendon Seminary. 
Two shoemaker-shops besides — 
And a doctor that does electrize. 
A tailor-shop, as you do see. 
Likewise a little grocery. 
Besides, there is an ancient mill 
That stands on yonder distant hill. 
And it grinds the wheat 
For the Clarendon men to eat. 

Composed by J. W. Glidden. 
H, W. Merrill Inst., January 19, 1836. 
" Life's gayest scenes speak man's mortality." 



I 

1 



CHIPS. 381 

There was a very poor old woman, who was in the habit 
of traveling around the country, and when she came to 
Clarendon, made Mrs. Laura A. Copeland a special call, 
and was a guest in every sense of the word. The author 
remonstrated with the mother as to these visits, but she 
rebuked him by saying: "Be not forgetful to entertain 
strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels una- 
wares." "But," said David, "I don't believe God sends 
angels looking so bad as this woman." This argument 
never drove the needy from our door. 

Eldredge Farwell, wishing to inspect the old log school 
just below W. H. H. Goff, rode up in front of the door, 
when the teacher went out of the back door, and ran into 
the woods very near by. In came the judge, and asked for 
the master. Horace Peck told him that he had ran into 
the woods. "Well, then," said the judge, "you call the 
scholars up, and I will inspect them." Horace did so, and 
when the judge had left the teacher came sneaking in again, 
and took charge of affairs. 

One of the earliest surveys for the Erie Canal was made 
through Clarendon, and Mrs. Samuel L. Stevens can re- 
member of the surveyors sticking their stakes in her 
orchard, on the Stevens road. The hills and bluffs at this 
point would have made Clarendon the Lockport between 
Buffalo and Albany, a much more direct line than the one 
finally adopted by the outlayers of this grand work. But 
the rocks of Clarendon were too heavy for the moneyed men 
of that pioneer day. 

Ira G . Cole, and Nerville, his son, have built, since 1866, 
in Holley and vicinity, more houses than any other two 
carpenters in this section. They have erected the finest 
houses in this portion of New York, and their buildings 
are on every street, and of the most modern style of archi- 
tecture. One fine point in the work of these contractors is, 
that when they take a contract they push it day and night 



382 HISTORY OF CLARENDON. 



3 



until the work is completed. They can ask for no other 
memorial than their buildings to perpetuate their name. 

According to Michael Murphy, his lime-kiln, up to De- 
cember, 1888, sold 22,000 bushels of lime, and the fires are 
still burning, and will all winter, if the season permits. 
For one year this is an excellent showing, and some idea 
can be formed of the value of this product when we figure 
the price of twenty cents at the kiln, and twenty-five cents 
a bushel when delivered ; and this requires teams daily to 
supply the demand, which is increasing yearly, demon- 
sti'ating that Clarendon has a mine of wealth in lime. 

When the "General Eoll " is called, the books opened, 
we earnestly hope that Clarendon may be found with her 
history, like the moon in the Indian skies, increasing in 
glory as she travels the grand highway of eternity. 



FlKIS. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 222 311 9* 



